This question comes up from time to time. When the American flag is displayed on a vehicle such as an aircraft tail, it should be positioned with the field in the direction of forward movement. If you look at the flag emblem on military uniforms, when worn on the right sleeve, it is mounted as if flying on a staff with the feild to the front.

Normally, the stars are located on the upper left portion of the American flag, but it is not uncommon to see aircraft where the stars (also known as the canton) are on the upper right, especially on aircraft's right side and space shuttle. But why so?

Proper display of the flag in motion emanates from a single principle. The flag always 'flies forward'. i.e, the canton (stars) on the flag is oriented towards the front of the moving object as though it were being carried on a staff and moving in a forward direction.

The custom is to display the American flags on the both sides of a plane, usually on the vertical stabilizer in the back of the aircraft.

If you happen to be looking at the left side of the aircraft (the left side from the passenger's point of view) the stars will be on the left (or normal position);

If you walk around to the right side of the aircraft, the canton will be on your right!