BOAC AIRLINE LIVERIES FLY AGAIN
The name BOAC is to return to the skies once more.
As part of British Airways 100th birthday it has today announced it will be painting four of its aircraft in much-loved retro designs from its past. The first aircraft has been confirmed as a Boeing 747 in a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) design.
A Boeing 747 long-range wide-body four engined commercial jet airliner for the BOAC – British Overseas Airways Corporation 1971. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
An aircraft with the registration number G-BYGC a Boeing 747 liveried as a BOAC plane will arrive back at Heathrow from the paint factory on February 18th in time to enter the airline’s normal flying schedule.
BOAC Boeing 747 landing at Heathrow in the 1970’s Richard Vandervord [CC] via Wikimedia Commons
Designs are an opportunity to revisit history of UK commercial aviation in this centenary year. The livery from the 1964 –1974 period will adorn the Boeing 747.
How the 747 will look with the BOAC paint job.
The aircraft will leave the paint shop in Dublin and arrive into Heathrow on February 18, and enter service the following day. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Boeing 747 flight of only a few days earlier.
BOAC LIVERY FOR THREE MORE PLANES
This BOAC 747 will be followed by three other aircraft which will all have different retro liveries. All four aircraft will fly British Airways’ routes, proudly showcasing some of the popular designs as part of the airline’s centenary celebrations.
All new aircraft entering the fleet, including the A350, will continue to receive today’s popular ‘Chatham Dockyard’ design.
British Airways ‘Chatham Dockyard’ design as its called (Don’t ask me why?)
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “So many British Airways customers and colleagues have fond memories of our previous liveries, regularly sharing their photos from across the globe. It’s incredibly exciting to be re-introducing some classic designs, and what better place to start than the iconic BOAC livery.“Our history has shaped who we are today, so our centenary is the perfect moment to revisit our heritage and the UK’s aviation landscape through these iconic designs. We’re excited to share details of the other liveries over the coming weeks.”
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO speaking at a recent event.
The 747 has been deliberately chosen for the BOAC livery as it is a later variant of the same aircraft type that adorned the design when it was initially in operation.
The BOAC livery will remain on the Boeing 747 until it retires in 2023. By this time, British Airways will have retired the majority of its 747 fleet, replacing them with new state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft.
This includes taking delivery of 18 A350s and 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the next four years. As well as another 26 short-haul aircraft, all part of the airline’s £6.5bn investment for customers.
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Chatham Naval dockyard was the origional livery which concord used when the rest of the fleet had the different world service colours / patterns.
Chatham Naval Dockyard used to produce all the flags and signals used by the Royal Navy including the “Union Jacks” and “White Ensigns” flown by the Royal Navy hence the connection.