AIRLINER MARKINGS: The World's Classic Airline Color Schemes and How They Were Designed!

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[@michaeljohndennis2231]

Being Irish myself, I love the old liveries of our national airline Aer Lingus, also known as Shamrock, Aerlinte Éireann and Irish International Airlines 🇮🇪☘️🇮🇪❤️

[@Commander-McBragg]

Kind of like Eddie Jordan’s early F-1 cars. Gorgeous!

[@AMStationEngineer]

I worked at Dublin, Shanwick, and Cork during most of 1984, and much of 1985, doing MCDU GPS Upgrades. Flew on the Saint Patrick, but was afraid to even go near Pope John Paul's "seat"; much of GPS was installed on 2-day layover aircraft in Ireland because of convenience. They're first rate!!

[@javiergilvidal1558]

The BOAC 707 drawing at 17:00 is EXTREMELY interesting, since it matches exactly (down to the reflections on the natural metal lower fuselage immediately ahead of the wing and below the "BOAC" sign) the Airfix first-edition boxtop artwork by Roy Cross (or was it William Howard Jarvis?) from 1963 (please compare the relevant "Scalemates" web page). This can be no coincidence, and I would really like Mike to explain. Also thanks very much are due to the author for explaining the term "cheat line", which has puzzled me for decades. In this world of improvised, fake quacks and watered-down "experts", it´s a real pleasure to find a guy who really knows what he´s talking about!. Thanks, Mike, for a thoroughly enjoyable video!

[@johnplaninac9980]

The color scheme of the different airlines back in the day was amazing. The photos and artwork in this video are stunning. Great work. Thank you and the team.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks John! Glad you liked this one, and "Part 2" will be coming Monday morning!

[@seanledden4397]

TWA's final color scheme was absolutely gorgeous.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed!

[@seanledden4397]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Thank you for your reply - and for your channel, which I love. Also - I liked how you started out with the classic American Airlines planes. They were my favorite when I was a kid. :)

[@kyleknebel6409]

Totally agree!

[@davidwhite160]

The SAS colour scheme isn't a dragon, it's a stylised Viking long boat.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for that correction and watch for Part 2 coming Monday morning!

[@4thArmoredVet]

Many Viking long boats, or Draken Harald Hårfagre, had dragons carved into their heads. So it is a dragon, or draken.

[@andreperrault5393]

These reminded me of the many commercial flights I’ve had and seeing the airliners schemes in and around airports since the 60’s. Thanks

[@jniltonsantanna]

The DC-10 in British Caledonian colors were beautiful. The combination between golden, dark blue and white were very elegant.

[@cfrao]

My first flight to Europe was a nonstop flight in British Caledonian from San Juan to Gatwick in 1984. Remember it fondly.

[@MD-tv5fp]

Their marketing slogan was Poetry In Motion.

[@SCSuperheavy114]

Miss the original Saul Bass Tulip design. Always thought that livery stuck out at the gates.

[@paulkile9998]

Thanks Mike for a very nostalgic video!!! Like you, I LOVE the retro schemes on modern jets. And I have to say I prefer the United Loewy scheme over the Saul Bass scheme for a very personal reason...my Dad flew for United from 1946-1977, and the pinnacle of his career was defined by the Loewy Jet Mainliner scheme!! In fact I was happy his last flight was in a Stars and Bars 727 and not a Tulip bird!!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Very cool, and your Father definitely flew during the Golden Age of commercial air travel. Thanks for watching!

[@danf321]

Paint schemes are something we take for granted, yet they are complicated applications that turn flying tubes into works of art.

[@raynus1160]

Wow, some really great shots of some very beautiful machines in this presentation Mike. Thanks for putting this up.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hoppy5631]

Fascinating presentation Mike. I've always enjoyed airline graphics and colours. Thank you! 🇨🇦

[@mikejeffrey3706]

🇨🇦 Thanks again, Mike. Great presentation. It's definitely the original scheme on the DC-8. Airlines here in Canada went through a mind-boggling array of changes from the 70s into the late 90s with rebrandings and mergers. Canadian Pacific Airlines is a good example when they went to CP Air (my favorite) and then to Canadian Airlines. They went full circle. From a goose on the tail on a DC-8 (CPA)to a goose on the tail on a 747!(Canadian) Who will ever forget those orange Multi-marked CP Air Empress 747s. 🇨🇦

[@hoppy5631]

The CP Air logo has always been my favourite as well!🇨🇦

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@Wild-Dad]

The CP Air logo 👍👍👍👍👍👍 in my books. All of Canadian Pacific holdings back then had it (Rail, Air, Trucks, Ships, Hotels/land development). The use of it for Rail and Air was my favourite. I look forward to Part 2.

[@Wild-Dad]

It may not be a classic airline but the colour scheme for CP Air during the mid sixties to almost into the 90’s! I love that bright orange and yellow scheme!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@maxsmodels]

When I tossed bags at Dulles, United airlines still had the Tulip scheme (even a long DC-8). I think my favorite is the last TWA black, red & gold on white. Loved the globe design.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Max, and watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@777FreakyD]

Saul Bass DC-10 is a real gem

[@glennweaver3014]

Great video Mike. Loved seeing all of these beautifully painted airliners, and the photos are superb. I prefer the Raymond Loewy scheme on the DC-8. Much more striking than the tulip style in my opinion. Loewy's Studebaker designs were other worldly works of art. If I had to pick just one airliner and one perfect color scheme to go with it, I would have say the TWA Lockheed Super G Constellation of the 1950s. Absolutely gorgeous pairing of plane and paint. The Connie in Eastern Airlines markings from the 50s would be a close second. Look forward to Part 2 of this fascinating subject. As always, thanks for your effort.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Glenn, and I totally agree on your top choice - made me think of the Monogram TWA Super G and Revell's Eastern 1049G!

[@Paughco]

Great video. I was getting ready to bust you for not having a box top in your photo series, but you came through once again! We are truly celebrating aviation! Thank you, Mike!! I like the DC-8 on the top.

[@skyediamonds5654]

Mike, you did a marvelous job of covering such a wide variety of airline color schemes. One of my favorites was Braniff. In the early days, Braniff has their fantastic color schemes on their Convair-340’s painted in such a colorful way. It has inspired me to hope to build a large 1/12th scale model in the Braniff scheme with functioning side-mounted folding air stairs. Cheers, Gary

[@bertg.6056]

A mesmerizing presentation, Mike. Thanks !! Living in San Diego, I recall the PSA smile. Can you think of a more effective black line?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

PSA was the best!

[@twanohguy]

I worked for both United and Hughes Airwest. I still like the yellow Airwest used and too the interior fabric was terrific. United older schemes are the best in my opinion with the red, white and blue. Honorary mention to the various colors and tones used bt Braniff.

[@williamstel9330]

Raymond Lowe sure laid out some beautiful color schemes, hands down.

[@N99JH]

What a fantastic presentation, I love it . Kudos! I prefer the United scheme on top.

[@chuck9987]

Great video, so much information and extremely well presented. I personally like the simpler schemes although the Lowey Air Dorce One design is incredibly beautiful. That Alaskan airlines Salmon Thirty Samon is also outstanding. I kind of like the critters on the tail of Frontier's planes too. When did Air France drop "Shrimpy" from their paint schemes.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good question Chuck, and Air France actually retained that logo, but used it within a much smaller circle on the forward fuselage before eliminating it from the fuselage with the A380 era. However, that logo now appears on the engine nacelles. Thanks for watching!

[@demartin5366]

Beautiful presentation, Mike!! As a 63 year old commercial aviation enthusiast, I have seen a lot of change over the years with airline color schemes as you have. One of my favorite color schemes was that of Ozark and when Trans Texas evolved into Texas International. I loved how Texas International included the Lone Star flag on their DC 9s and Convair 600s. I always thought Southern Airways had a simple, yet sharp looking change in the 70s with the triple S design and a beautiful use of blue. Braniff's flying colors will always be one of my favorites along with Continentals meat ball livery. Regarding your United DC 8 ending logos, I have to say I like the Saul Bass design the best of all of United's many changes over the years. Thank you so much for sharing this insightful and well done presentation, very much appreciated.

[@jb6027]

A trip down memory lane. Excellent!!

[@hattrick2219]

NWA employees referred to the red and gray scheme of the late 80's as the "bowling shoe". Your comment about flying on the same colored Braniff six times reflects Lottto odds. However, I recall a Braniff marketing plan that challenged flyers to fly at least once on ALL the different colors. They may have had a special "multi-color" achievement award club.

[@deancook6832]

I have heard a story in the past that the "Great Pumpkin" was the one and only 747 that Braniff owned. Don't know if that is accurate or not. I think at one time it went frequently from Dallas to Hawaii.

[@brianwaldrop3506]

Dean, believe that Braniff had other 747s, especially when their route network expanded dramatically, like into South America. Re: the Dallas-to-Hawaii, see my prior comment; I recall that it was a daily flight, except perhaps one day, possibly Sunday. I was outdoors a lot at midday then, and you could "set your watch" to that big jet's departure time.

[@deancook6832]

@@brianwaldrop3506 Maybe it was supposed to be the only orange 747, I don’t know.

[@donnafromnyc]

The Great Pumpkin flew Braniff's last flight, if I remember correctly from John Nance's 'Splash of Colors'. Nance was a Braniff captain before becoming a famous writer and aviation commentator.

[@gregsells8549]

@@brianwaldrop3506 Braniff was already flying to South America when they got the Great Pumpkin. Around 1977 or 78, they started flying to London, so they got another 747 for that.

[@MD-tv5fp]

That photo of the orange 747 was taken at London Gatwick. Braniff's 747SP was also seen there. We knew them as the Big Orange.

[@AJ67901]

Very enjoyable episode Mike. You said that American was the most consistent with their paint scheme, in my opinion United has to be the least consistent! They seem to be unable to stick with anything for too long. I preferred their post Continental merger scheme with or without the wave. You'd have to agree that Pan Am was very consistent with their branding. The billboard livery in 1985 was done well, but the meatball was a masterstroke by whomever designed it in 1955/ish. With or without the company name, it was readily identifiable as Pan Am. I could see Pan Am still using it today if they were around. For domestic carriers, I really liked TWA's last scheme. I thought it was very classy. I'd guess the black might not have been the most thermal-friendly, but it did look elegant. Loved the Salmon pun ;) Thanks

[@jimcaufman2328]

How did PSA get its smile? PSA was introducing a new city to is schedule. The night crew at San Diego maintenance readied the 737 and the cleaners scrubbed the airplane in and out. The Mayor of San Diego and the mayor of the new city were to be on first flight. After the plane was finishes the painter, Abe Para, painted the smile on the plane which was his idea. No official orders to do so. Flight landed in the new city and pictures were taken and appeared in several newspapers. When the aircraft returned to San Diego for night maintenance Abe covered up the smile with a new coat of paint. Over the next few weeks, the public kept asking Reservations and Gate Agents where the plane with the "smile" was. The word got up to the President and he ordered smiles to be painted on all the airplanes. Over the next few years an ad campaign was born.

[@swvwest]

Actually, that story was disputed by Gross, Perra and Rockey Advertising Firm whom had PSA as a client starting around 1968. Martin Rockey, said he was part of the design process for the “Catch or Smile” Campaign. Articles in Los Angeles Times from December of 1985 and a couple of magazines have interviewed him saying there isn’t truth to the story. But admits they didn’t go out of the way to discredit the story at the time to get PR to build brand awareness. Either way, storytelling like the one you mentioned, build the mystery of the brand. I believe some of the article has been posted online.

[@MarceloTrindade1]

Great presentation with a great topic. I could keep watching it for a long, long time! By the way, I suggest other videos on this, talking about other companies of the world and liveries in general: good and questionable taste, special paintings, meaning of the symbols, and so on. It would be awesome!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Watch for Part 2 coming Monday morning!

[@MarceloTrindade1]

​@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782Great!!! I hope you didn't forget VARIG...

[@mjf1036]

Another Monday morning starting with another great episode! While the tulip scheme is striking those colors are certainly 70's. I prefer Raymon's design as it feels timeless.

[@davidfusco6600]

I like the United scheme at the top. Awesome video, thanks!

[@stevecausey545]

Always a pleasure to watch. Thanks again,Mike! Took me two days to finish watching ( I'm building a 1/16th scale army jeep) You have got to take a look at one if you like military ground vehicles...😢

[@C1063]

Very very nice Video Mike👍🏼 Im enjoy from the beginning to the ending 🥰✔️✈️

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Awesome, thank you!

[@stephenmiller9124]

Tail End Queation: My vote for the classic UAL livery versus the more modern "Tulip" design....I am going for the classic every time! What a fun video presentation! Mike, you keep hitting them out of the park! Thank you for celebrating aviation with us!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@user-yc2oz8kc5k]

Indeed it is amazing to see how these livery designers were right in that some airline liveries would not translate well from the brick-like prop planes to the slick and fast looking jetliners. Great job and what they did still speaks volumes today. Love your Machats, you are very good. Great to see them in this video.

[@robertadams2857]

Great show. I say TOP. I never flew much but always noticed the designs on the aircraft. Eastern planes were always my favorite.

[@fjmeckel]

It’s hard to think of custom livery designs without talking about Southwest. Their Shamu livery worked particularly well. If we were judging the United liveries, I think I would give it to the Raymond Lowe design, BUT, the Saul Bass design along with Eastern’s Hockey Stick are of my all time favorites. I was delighted to see an updated Hockey Stick livery on the charter line that bought the rights to the Eastern name. Unfortunately is was short lived. Thank you for a great piece. Am subscribing to keep up with your amazing work. All the best.

[@kudukilla]

So many of a kind Southwest planes. Shamu, and a variety of state flags.

[@citibear57]

Mike, I really appreciate this video. I have always been more interested in an airplane's livery than with the aircraft itself. In the mid 60's, one of the breakfast cereals had a series of trading cards featuring an image of an airplane/airline. I had only heard of most of them, so to see them was fascinating to me. I studied those images for a long time, and even put them on my bedroom wall. Unfortunately, they were accidentally thrown out. I still wish that I had them today! I have so many favorites, but the one that stands out most was Delta's vertical widget design. I find a lot of current liveries to be boring.

[@joeschenk8400]

Another great Monday morning video...real fun! Please don't ask me to decide on which DC-8 scheme I like better...if pushed about it, I will be like a politician and say I like both!

[@johnreep5798]

I like the classic color schemes best, from the ‘60s.

[@andrewcox4386]

Interesting video 👍 I always understood that the bare metal was originally used to save the weight of paint as long as the aircraft performance was marginal for the routes being flown. As performance improved then airlines could add more paint.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great point. Boeing quotes a fully-painted 747 as carrying approx. 500 lbs. of paint!

[@cameraman655]

20:43 I was hoping you would feature Braniff. My grandfather was an FO on their 707 and 727s, so many fond memories as a kid, along with my brother and sister deciding on which color plane we wanted to fly (I always chose Green) back in the 70s. My grandfather retired in ‘77’ y years before Braniff shut down. Thanks for this.👍

[@glennac]

Ha! 20:43 First impressions of the Braniff scheme was, “What’s with the blood spatter on the tail?!” Then I realized it was stars. 😅 Great video Mike❣️

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing.

[@mityace]

Raymond Loewy also designed the carbody for the iconic GG1 railroad locomotive. I grew up in NE PA and early flight were out of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a.k.a. Avoca, AVP. So, the schemes I saw the most when I was young were the Eastern "Whisperjet" scheme and Allegheny Airlines planes with the two-tone red stripe. This continued after the airline changed it's name to USAir (USAirways would come later.) And, they used the same scheme on their jets and turboprop commuter planes and IMO it worked on both. I was never a big fan of the US Airways schemes. One other that I would like to shout out is the American Airlines scheme with a red, white, and blue cheatstripe on a bare metal airplane. Classy and classic.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for your comment, and watch for "Part 2" coming Monday morning!

[@Chilly_Billy]

That was one of your most pleasing presentations, which is saying something.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

I like the retro designs on the newer airliners. Really interesting video. Wish you had included taca. Saw them for many years flying in and out of New Orleans

[@MD-tv5fp]

Excellent video. It makes a nice change to hear a commentary on aviation from someone who knows what he is talking about.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment - thanks very much!

[@weswestbrook7902]

Nice Mike. I like looking back on the old airliner schemes. Early United 1960s was great. On viscount too.

[@williamtorp2817]

Thanks for the video. I still miss my Wings & Airpower magazines.

[@dave8599]

6:23 A friend of mine worked for United, and told me the air traffic controllers did not like the grey scheme, as it made it had to see the plane on the ground in gloomy weather.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, I had heard that as well.

[@Claymore5]

Great presentation as always Mike - as for the DC-8 scheme - it's got to be the classic over the tulip I'm afraid. The DC-8 just looks neater like that.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed!

[@atatexan]

Fabulous video,Mike. For me it would be the Loewy United DC-8 livery.

[@skyden24195]

I'm a SoCal resident myself. I live just outside of March Air Reserve Base, so I get to see various military aircraft in the air during training sessions. Most common of these are C-5s, KC-46s, and F-16s. But I've also seen Predator-Drones as well as Chinooks and, recently, even an Osprey.

[@susandowney7000]

My dad worked for Delta in the 70’s through mid 90’s. He used to joke that TWA meant Try Walking Awhile.

[@johnf991]

I was hoping to see the Braniff Pumpkin! I remember being amazed by that scheme when I fist saw it in a copy of either Flight or Aeroplane magazine in the late 60s. Check out the 1960s scheme for BEA (British European Airways) which, to my uneducated eye, looks identical on both the RR Spey powered De Havilland Trident and piston engined Vickers Viscounts and Vanguards, with white upper fuselage over a black "cheat-stripe" (thanks for providing that term!) and deep red on the upper wing surfaces. Great channel!

[@MD-tv5fp]

That BEA scheme was known as Red Square, as that shape appeared on the tail and within the cheatline. It could also be seen on their Comets, Argosies, and BAC 1-11s. (And Herons, I think). Late in the 1960's it was usurped by the Speedjack scheme, which featured an arrowhead segment of the Union Jack. Some 1-11s showed the title Super One Eleven on the tail instead, legend has it that the French objected to the British flag landing in their country! After the merger between BEA and BOAC, the flag was reduced to about one eighth, with the top half of the tail representing half of the flag's horizontal red stripe, then a blue triangle trapped by a diagonal red stripe. If the slowly disappearing flag caused offence, then it got worse with the Landor scheme, which replaced the red top section with more blue, containing the company coat of arms. The lower half of the fuselage was all blue, with a red pinstripe just below the top edge. Personally, I thought it looked very smart on the BAe ATP.

[@johnf991]

Your comment reminded of Margaret Thatcher's disapproval of a new BA scheme which toned down the Union flag on the tail and she simply draped her hanky over a model painted in the new scheme. My memory might be failing me but I seem to remember that the scheme didn't last long, or is that wishful thinking?@@MD-tv5fp

[@SaMartok]

I've always been glad that KLM kept the blue livery, when most companies went the Euro white route. Those big blue birds are always recognizable from afar, for many years now. Yes there have been some changes to the livery since the 70's, but mostly they've kept it the same for close to 50 years. Talk about continuity.

[@get2dachoppa249]

12:15 It’s been a few years since I last visited, but the last time I was there, the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas has on display the actual scale 727 model that Calder himself painted to show the Braniff execs.

[@briankay4713]

Especially enjoyed this one Mike ....stunning photography and artwork from yourself and some simply gorgeous aircraft and liveries ... Mention has to go to Raymond Loewys magnificent PRR T1 Duplex steam locomotives. ..a real work of art

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks, and agreed on Loewy's PRR T1!

[@rudipack1551]

Great video thank you. Re the Dc-8, for me it has to be the bottom scheme as that was the scheme when I was working security for United at LHR. I smiled when you said you were Air Force. although being British I have worked for the USAF now for over four years, with a few more to come. Previously I have worked directly for British Midland Airways and Britannia Airlines plus a few others through other companies etc.......anyway, thank you for making me smile and remember my past

[@bobjove6511]

I miss the united battleship grey paint job. It was iconic not flashy and just looked really cool to my eye. The tulip theme is much stronger than the globe continental used

[@donnafromnyc]

Very similar to NWA.

[@chicagoman58]

Thank you for this fine video. I prefer the Loewy Mainliner color scheme over the Saul Bass. My favorite variation of the Lowey was the one introduced in 1970, which had a red instead of gold lower cheat line and bold Bookman italics titles.

[@airtiki2374]

Always loved the Astrojet scheme. I watch alot of plane spotting channels and I say 'retro is the way to go" recently saw the British Airways BOAC scheme.. Beautiful and kudos to Lufthansa retro scheme

[@12345fowler]

Great work Mike. The Air France tail logo is often referred to as "the barcode" for obvious reasons.

[@glynnjohnson3531]

AS A RETRO AIRLINE BUFF. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK MEMORIES!.

[@dogbadger]

Great video, but might have been worth mentioning that the effectiveness of AA's bare metal aesthetic was slowly reduced by the increased use of composites in airframes, starting with their a300s (tail and engine cowlings)

[@707liner8]

Wow, some great liveries there! I think a lot of the current 'Eurowhite' schemes are very bland and boring, it's a pity the cheatlines went out of fashion. There are still some that manage a good combo of modernity with some elements of colour, Bamboo Airlines from Vietnam, Easyjet and SAS come to mind, but the current Japan Airlines scheme is the epitomy of boring - thank goodness they brought back the red crane on the tail! Which leads me to a suggestion - how about a video looking at the development of the iconic logos, such as the JAL and Lufthansa cranes, QANTAS 'roo and Alaska Eskimo?

[@eqplanes]

Excellent video ! Aircraft livery design has always been quite the intriguing field always interesting to see how the branding evolves with time. I feel very fortunate to have got the chance to help design the new A350F launch livery which I look forward to seeing it in person when it the aircraft finishes production never thought I would have gotten the chance to be apart of something like that. This may be a controversial take but my favourite livery has to be Condors new livery, the stripes look very good in person and is unique in a good way, seeing the aircraft lined up at the airport in the different colours is a great sight and reminds me of seeing the old Air Canada Jazz livery light up the gates at YYC. The retro livery’s also look great I would certainly love to see a CP Air retro livery with the bare metal and orange on a Air Canada 777-300er and a Canadian Airlines chevron livery would also look nice as a retro on a 787.

[@michaelsmith697]

I like the older United Scheme with the blue strip over the windows! It looks beautiful

[@stevenlemieux7220]

Maybe you can mention about the markings on the wings in another video. I was curious United and TWA had their name painted on the wings then it disappeared, I never knew what TWA stood for until I was in the 7th grade in 1977. It made a come back with Emerites and Delta with the name on belly instead of the wings. Great video.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@garyyoung4074]

Nice Mike. My last commercial flight was 8 months ago and my favorite paint scheme was from South West airlines. I wish Tamiya would make a 1/48 model of a short body/fan powered 737. Mine would be in South West colors. With a full interior and fiber optic lighting....wow, that would be cool! I keep hoping for the 1/48 scale B-47 and C-119 too. Anyway, keep up the good work. Your vids are a favorite of mine.

[@viksaini]

Northwest's bowling shoe livery and the last TWA livery are tops!

[@Primus54]

The United scheme… absolutely. Surprised you didn’t show one of the IcelandAir 757s with the gorgeous nature liveries. Great video, Mike.

[@nathanbond8165]

Hey Mike, once again superb job on another one of your videos I always love watching your videos so informative every time I watch I learn something new about Aviation! But I have two questions number one; where do you get such high resolution high quality photographs of all these vintage commercial aircraft? And my second question is, so I live in Phoenix Arizona and I'm frequently as part of my job in and out of Sky Harbor Airport it's kind of odd because earlier this summer I noticed (and you can't not notice) a giant 747 aircraft that was parked at Sky Harbor executive terminal that's an important factor here it wasn't at the main terminals or commercial terminals but it was at the executive terminal I was driving and I wasn't able to get a photograph of it or else I would have I would email it to you, a 747 is it had no markings, no branding on it, no identifications whatsoever!! not even a damn registration number!! I looked I couldn't find a registration number on this aircraft!! how is it possible that any aircraft is allowed to fly without at least a registration number and especially a giant 747 aircraft!! you have any idea what this plane was about or who it belongs too? How can any aircraft was allowed to fly without at least a registration number? even military aircraft have registration numbers, I just thought it was so peculiar!!!!!! What even further deepens the mystery is to my understanding there are no longer any 747 commercial planes flying, I remember seeing on the news that the last flight of the last 747 was like a year ago!!! Okay, so I do know that out in the desert here in Arizona we have several commercial jet boneyards so maybe it's possible the plane was being decommissioned and was going to be sent to one of those boneyards but you would still have a registration number on it right?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for the questions, and I've acquired many thousands of good photos over my 40-year career in aviation. As for the all-white 747, airplanes only need registration numbers if they are flying operationally, so that aircraft may be waiting to be scrapped. Thanks for watching!

[@markcarson853]

I always hate to see your videos come to an end! The “Flying W” was pretty cool looking on Western Airlines planes.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@DanDauzacker]

As A Brazilian, I like a lot of "Cruzeiro do Sul" and "Panair" Color Schemes.

[@michaelcosta3098]

Mike on the United DC-8's the top, but my favorite was the Stars and Bars.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@00:08 in, you named this plane, as the Lockheed Electra. But this aircraft, is similar to a 'DC-6', 'Viscount', or some other heavy, foue engine, airliner. The Lockheed Electra had two, smaller engines, and a small fuselage. It was the type plane, Amelia Earhart disappeared in.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Both aircraft were named the Electra - Lockheed's twin-engine Model 10 flown by Amelia Earhart in 1930s, and the four-engine L-188 turboprop transport which first flew at Burbank in 1957. Thanks for watching.

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! The SAS logo from 1983 was in Norway called the Rainbow Trout logo. Take a look at BU del logo of the B 767-205 from 1984. Boeing said that it was the most awesome cs ever! Also follow BUs cs on the F-27 from 1958 until the jet age. Compare that to airlines down under. Fashion is all over! Lol! Keep up the good work! Do you know who designed the BU jet logo? I am trying to find a picture of BU Constellations from ca 1953/54. They were sold to QF prior to del. One had the reg. LN-HHK.

[@JDSleeper]

My favorite liveries: Delta Widget, United Saul Bass, and Continental Meatball. I have all of these on my 737 fleet in MSFS. I also have AirCal and PSA on the MD-82. Flew on those two airlines a lot as a kid.

[@kurtburgess1519]

As a designer myself, the top UNITED scheme on the last frame has more stylish finese. One of my favorites on our family visits to O'Hare in the 1960s. That and the AMERICAN lighting bolt and the earlier livery when Pan American was spelled out in full.

[@robertdragoff6909]

For the paint scheme comparison, I like the top one…. Much cleaner and more elegant, at least to me… I liked how American Airlines painted their jets, bare metal with a dash of color…. I remember as a kid looking up to the sky and see North East airlines Yellow Bird flying either into or out of Logan… I remember the first time I saw my first 747. I was in our back yard with my dad when j heard the 747’s distinct engines the saw it practically over our house! It seemed to hang there motionless before it made a 90 degree turn and flew into Logan….

[@richarderickson8840]

I used to refer to Braniff Airlines as the TRIX airlines. Raspberry red, Lemon yellow and Orange orange. Flew on their stuff a lot in early to mid 70s

[@randolfodiniz451]

It is a pity you didn’t told about the colours of the VARIG company, one of the best!!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed, and watch for "Part 2" coming next Monday!

[@Maxgasimus]

Awesome!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks!

[@amazer747]

If I had a wish it would be to have a time machine. I'd love to have been able to see these older schemes in real life. However some modern schemes (except the Euro white bland) are very good. A favourite is Etihad's. I believe Saudia Arabian are reverting to their 1970s green/blue cheatline scheme from their current desert scheme. Both are pretty good in my opinion. A very interesting video Mike, thanks.

[@n84434]

21:42 My guess- looking for the source of the Skydrol leak….

[@brmnyc]

I enjoyed this very much. Personally, the image of a Pan Am 707 will always represent the epitome of the jet age. But I think TWA's arrowhead with the addition of the Twin Globes logo is pure genius. I would love to have seen National Airlines included in this, their Sun King logo was brilliant. In more recent times, I was so happy when United replaced that awful battleship gray scheme with "Rising Blue". I thought it was beautiful, and sadly it lasted a very short time due to the Continental merger. A lot of time was devoted to American's Astrojet scheme which was great, but I'm surprised no image was shown of the red, white & blue stripes and scissor wings logo. There was something very timeless about it which is why it lasted decades. Shame on Lufthansa for getting rid of the yellow crane. Another poster here suggested a study of the evolution of airline logos, that's a great idea! Long live Japan Airline's Tsurumaru crane!

[@donrobinson6613]

Flew from Auckland NZ to London return in 1974 on British airways Super VC-10's (17:22) a couple of months after BEA & BOAC had merged into British airways. Our tickets were in the BA Negus scheme but the aircraft were still in full BOAC livery.

[@davidsmithson9236]

This is a subject that could be long running. I surprised I didn’t see the Pan Am logo from the film “2001 A Space Odyssey.” Perhaps next time? Thanks Mike.

[@brianwaldrop3506]

Thanks, Mike, for an extremely well-presented program, and SO interesting. KUDOS! I've lived mostly in the D/FW area since the late 1960s, and remember well the colorful Braniff jets both at Love Field in Dallas, before D/FW International opened around 1973, and at D/FW afterwards. Orange, red, yellow, green, blue, purple - they were quite eye-catching. In the 80s I lived immediately south of D/FW, in Arlington, and the orange-painted "Great Pumpkin" 747 could be seen departing D/FW for Hawaii every single day around noon, and I assume a return trip later in the day / evening. I was always told, don't know if true, that it was the same aircraft both ways - IF true, that would mean that particular aircraft spent more time aloft, than on the ground. Comment / correction from other viewers welcomed, always wondered if this was true. Keep up the OUTSTANDING work!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@tonyj8949]

As I was watching this one of the ANA "Flying Honu" A380s flew above. Daily service between Narita and Honolulu. I work on the approach to HNL so seeing that beast come in for a landing is a highlight of the morning.

[@dontroutman8232]

TULIP. Thanks Mike. (Comment added after the live premiere chat.) Cheers, Far. 🇬🇧

[@dick6487]

Excellent presentation as always! I have always thought the TWA Super Connie was one of the best classic schemes. Love your videos. Dick

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@nymuseum1601]

Nice vid. Somewhat surprised that the Aeroflot Logo was not included. 'Would like to view images of non "western" airlines perhaps whilst visiting the USA, Canada and European airports.

[@deantait8326]

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing… The Connie’s are so cool with the Tri-tail … imo AA has always had my favorite paint schemes with Pam Am maybe being the most recognizable …

[@Arp1757]

DHL’s and Spirit’s Banana yellow schemes are weirdly elegant, too… I guess it would make it easy to spot the wreckage!

[@Nlangkirby135]

I always loved the Delta Air Lines Widget livery.