The Art of Aircraft Livery: How a Boeing 747 Became a Canvas for Conservation
The use of aircraft liveries can be traced back to the early days of commercial aviation in the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, aircraft liveries were relatively simple, often consisting of just the airline’s name painted on the side of the aircraft in large block letters.
However, as commercial aviation grew and became more competitive, airlines began to use liveries as a means of distinguishing themselves from their competitors and establishing a unique brand identity. In the 1940s and 1950s, airlines began to incorporate more elaborate designs into their liveries, including stylized logos, distinctive color schemes, and other graphic elements.
One of the most famous early liveries was the “Speedbird” livery used by British Airways in the 1960s and 1970s, which featured a stylized bird emblem and a distinctive blue and white color scheme. Other airlines followed suit, with many developing their own distinctive liveries, such as the bright orange livery of easyJet, the red and blue stripes of American Airlines, and the green and gold livery of Emirates.
However, as distinctive as the liveries can be, there is one, that stands out the most, a regular Boeing 747 of Rossiya Airlines, that accommodates 522 passengers including the 12 buisness class seats on the upper deck, had a special livery on its nose which features the face of an Amur Tiger as a part of a collaboration with the “Amur Tiger Centre”, raising awareness of the hurdles faced in preserving and strengthening the population of the Amur Leopard tigers. According to the IAC, who were responsible for this particular project, took 12 whole days to complete the livery. Not only was the Tigers face painted free hand on site at Fiumicino, but used a mix of 9 different colours with 4 principle colours and its variations to bring it to life. The rest of the fuselage and the tail section of the aircraft has the Rossiya Airlines distinctive “white and red” livery, which gives the entire aircraft, a very peculiar look after all.
Brief History of the 747
The Boeing 747, also known as the “Jumbo Jet,” is a wide-body commercial airliner that was intially introduced in the early 1970s. It had several variants introduced through it years of development along with a ‘Special Performance” variant, called the 747SP. In the mid-1960s, Boeing began designing the 747 in response to the growing demand for air travel and the need for a larger, more efficient aircraft. The project was initially known as the “Boeing 747 Project” or “CX-HLS,” which stood for Cargo Experimental-Heavy Logistics System. The 747’s design was revolutionary for its time, featuring a double-deck configuration that allowed for more passengers and cargo than any previous aircraft. In addition, the Boeing 747 also featured its iconic four engines mounted on the wings, thereby allowing for superior fuel efficiency and range.
Furthermore, right after the first prototype of the 747 took its maiden flight on February 9, 1969, the “mighty jumbo jet” entered commercial service with Pan American World Airways in January 1970, flying from New York to London. The aircraft quickly became popular with airlines and passengers alike, due to its size, range, and comfort. Despite its initial success, the 747 faced increasing competition from newer, more efficient aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A380. As a result, production of the Boeing 747 slowed in the 21st century, with Boeing announcing in 2020 that it would discontinue production of the aircraft after nearly 50 years in service. Despite the end of production, the Boeing 747 remains an iconic aircraft and a symbol of the golden age of air travel. It has played an important role in shaping the aviation industry and has left a lasting legacy as one of the most recognisable and beloved aircraft of all time.
What About the Tiger Livery Boeing 747 (EI-XLD)
According to @planespotters.net, this particular Boeing 747– 400, was intially delivered to Japan Airlines in 1998 as JA8914, which flew with the airline until 2010 and subsequently delivered to Transaero Airlines in 2011 as EI-XLD. Transaero airlines was a Russian airline that was founded in 1990 and operated until 2015. Once the second-largest airline in Russia, after Aeroflot, operated both domestic and international flights, serving destinations throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. In the early 2010s, Transaero Airlines faced financial difficulties, as the airline struggled to compete with low-cost carriers and with the Russian economic downturn, it had reportedly accumulated significant debt, and its financial situation became increasingly precarious. The Boeing 747, with its distinctive tiger nose face livery, was then delivered to soon after Transaero ceased operations in 2015 to Rossiya airline in 2016 and has been in service ever since, however, its current airframe status is “Stored”.
The Boeing 747 has not only transported passengers and cargo across the globe but has also contributed significantly to raising awareness about conserving endangered species. Despite being at the average age of 24.7 years, the aircraft has exceeded its intended purpose and become a symbol of the tremendous impact that the aviation industry can have on the world, provided that it is utilized responsibly. Its legacy serves as a reminder of the potential for human innovation to make a positive impact on the environment and society.
