Just for fun,why is the port side of most fixed wing a/c throughout history the side where nose art and and getting on and off,in and out occure?
I think you just answered the question! You have to have your nose art on the same side where you deplane. It would be uncool to have to get off the ladder, go “wait wait wait”, and duck under the nose to get to the side with the nose art before getting your mug photographed.
But just to be annoying, the F-104 Starfighter canopy hinges on the port side. Maybe Lockheed anticipated Japanese orders?
Pilot in command was usually on the left side.
Military courtesy says the senior officer is last on first off.
Good as explanation as any.
I seem to recall reading that the reason access to and from the cockpit is on that side is because thats the same side you get on and off a horse, and at the time aircraft where first taking to the air, the horse was still the most common form of transport.
That was the first thought that came to my mind, I think it is one of the reasons we drive on the left over here, also the Knights of old carried their swords and shields on the left side made getting on and off a horse a whole lot easier.
Iguess that makes sence.
Correct, though it goes back further as its believed that the Romans always traveled on the left. And your right about the driving as well.
Because the plane looks better on the shelf facing to the left
Good answer:)
[dto:]
Maybe because you board and deboard a ship on the “Port” side, the side that faces the port or dock.
Sorry MC, when we boarded or debarked our carrier we went down the starboard side.
Angle deck overhung to far to make port side docking impractical. Really can’t speak for tin cans or subs though.
The LPDs I was on used the port side to embark and debark so I guess that point is mute 
Yeah, our cutter would tie up on either side depending on what was already in dock. I think it’s just tradition at this point. But I believe that is why the left side is called “port”.
As I remember ancient ships had the rudder on the right side. Most people being right-handed you stood facing the bow and moved the tiller with your right hand.
So they ended up docked on the left or portside to keep from damaging the rudder on the right.
Sounds logical. I sometimes like these questions that don’t have an immediate solid answer.
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Double ditto that…
Ah Yes;
The old Port side, Starboard side question. Well , those of you who have gotten it right will know, because of what I am going to say. In the very,very days of old, all steering was done with the Steering Oar or Board on the right side of the ship or vessel.
I don’t recall when this became the standard, but I expect it was during the Norse age. All the Steering oars or boards were on the right. I guess there weren’t to many Sountpaws back then. But! As to Tin Cans and other ships, by then it didn’t matter because the rudders were under the ships and all, except Carriers could tie up either side. Some carrier’s Overhangs were to massive to allow one or the other side to be used.
We, on the Midway were always not sure we could go through the Panama Canal because of water conditions in the Gatun Locks and Lake. Our overhang on the slanted ( Port) side came awful close to the " Mules" when the lock emptied!
There is a painting in Ireland that shows St.Brendan in his coracle and his steering oar is on the right! The Steersman on a Viking Ship always looked through the sunstone facing slightly to the right as it was easier to see over the sail that way.
In the US locomotive engineers sit on the right.
IIRC US military helicopter pilots sit on the right?
But isn’t “Port” a relatively new term? Left was Larboard, the opposite of Starboard. I agree about the right handed theory, especially with helming, horsmanship and sword drawing.
Another point I want to make is that many small civil aircraft only have an acess door on the right side. Piper Cub, Cherokee, some models of the Mooney.