Witnessing a plane with a vivid paint job is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the atmosphere. Each plane is decorated wonderfully, displaying intense hues, intricate designs, and singular patterns that are certain to draw attention. From the traditional American Airlines flag of red, white, and blue to the yellow and green of Air New Zealand, the painting of aircraft is a means to express the identity of a company and make an appealing appearance.
The designs and colors that go into airplane paint jobs are not just for show; they have a practical purpose, such as helping to easily recognize the plane while it is in the air. All the details, hues, and designs of a plane’s paint job are chosen with consideration to make the craft as visible as possible and create a memorable look.
1. The Patriotic Ones
Southwest Airlines has achieved something remarkable – they have decorated one of their aircrafts with the Colorado flag! Locals of Denver will now be able to express their allegiance to their nation while they are in the air. The plane’s design looks gorgeous and will make any voyager feel proud to be part of it.
2. Japan Airlines – Disney Jet
Japan Airlines has been working in partnership with Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Waterpark since they were opened. Various characters such as Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy have been featured on the exterior of the airline’s planes. Japan Airlines has announced plans to put Disney-themed designs on six additional aircrafts.
3. Nok Air – Birds
Nok, a budget air company from Thailand, opted to give their planes an amusing makeover by decorating them as vibrant birds.
It is amusing to pick out these spectacularly designed aeroplanes while on the ground, and it also provides a response to the amusing question of “Is it a bird or a plane?” (Yes, it is both).
4. Talk About “Royal” Air Force
The Oregon National Guard gave one of their F-15E fighter planes an eye-catching paint job that features a bald eagle, which is a sign of Oregon’s natural loveliness. This warplane is celebrated for its remarkable performance and attack abilities. It was initially launched in 1972 and is still utilized by both the U.S. Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force.
5. Landing In Disneyland
This aircraft, intended to commemorate the frigid temperature of Alaska, moves much more slowly than a traditional airplane. It serves as an effective marketing tool for the state and will likely compel anyone contemplating a journey to this icy region to seriously consider it. The inclusion of a husky at the helm is a fantastic representation of the pilots who fly the plane.
6. Fastest Eagle Alive
The Oregon National Guard has adorned one of its F-15E fighter jets with a stunning art piece of a bald eagle, representing the grandness of the state. Famous for its impressive capabilities and aggressive capacity, this fighter jet was introduced in 1972 and is still being used by both the U.S. Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force.
7. Big Plane, Big Cat
Rossiy Airlines collaborated with the Amur Tiger Center to construct this remarkable monument to the brave animal. The magnificent face of the Amur Tiger was painted on the enormous Boeing 737 precisely where you would expect. The immense amount of paint utilized to finish the job demonstrates the enormity of the task. Obviously, all of the painting was done by hand.
8. Qantas – Wunala Dream
In order to honor and celebrate the culture and heritage of Australia’s Aboriginal people, Qantas Airlines chose to decorate its planes with traditional Aboriginal artwork. The project began in 1994 and 3 additional planes have been painted since then. A combination of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists took part in the creation of the detailed and eye-catching designs.
9. Digital Aces
Despite the belligerent relationship between the United States and Russia during the Cold War, they would keep an eagle eye on each other’s military advancements. The photograph in the top shows the Russian Su-57, and the one at the bottom is the F-16 of the US Air Force. Although the two nations acknowledge a tense peace right now, they still put a lot of funds into each other’s military technology. Not even the color of the paints on the aircrafts can evade the surveillance of their respective intelligence services.
10. Westjet — Frozen
To create an exterior design of characters from the film “Frozen” (Anna, Elsa, and Olaf) on a plane, 23 hues of paint were required – all making up a total of 170 gallons. Westjet Airlines joined forces with Disney to make the kid-friendly concept a reality, and they hired painters from Canada, the US, and Germany. The inside of the plane was altered to have a cold and wintery feel near the back, while the front of the aircraft featured a warm and sunny atmosphere.
11. US Airways – Arizona Cardinals
Back in 2006, U.S Airways paid homage to the Arizona Cardinals by adorning the sides of one of their planes with the airline’s popular red bird emblem. Isn’t it a sight to behold?
12. Malaysia Airways – Hibiscus
In 2005, Malaysia Airways had a distinct vision for two of its Boeing 747s, which was to paint them with an illustration of red Hibiscus flowers, the national flowers of the country. Unfortunately, these planes were repainted back to their original colors in 2008, therefore, the unique design is no longer in existence.
13. Super-Fast And Fizzy
Despite the fact that the Concorde was a perilous plane, Pepsi’s appealing exterior gave the impression that it was not hazardous. Pepsi was able to bring a lot of attention to the event due to its eye-catching display. The Concorde could only reach a maximum speed of 1.7 Mach when it was painted white, however, since the Pepsi plane was covered in a heavy coat of blue paint, it impeded its velocity.
14. Grinning Horror
Clearly, the painter of this one-of-a-kind mural had taken in a lot of aviation fuel before the project. We can recognize the plane as a Short SC-7 Skyvan 3-100, but the rest is up to the viewer to decipher. This is without a doubt one of the most unusual airplane designs we have ever come across and we have to applaud the artist for their creativity. Plus, the opening in the front is a part of the artwork.
15. Disco In The Sky
Clay Lacy Aviation designed the “SexyJet,” a luxurious Gulfstream GV with an ever-changing color scheme. This plane is a dream for the rich and famous, offering a spacious galley, private bathroom, power outlets, and a variety of hot and cold snacks. It features two Rolls-Royce engines, designed for the wealthiest in the world. Seeing this aircraft is an experience like no other.
16. Virgin Atlantic — Where’s Waldo?
To honor the display of a Boeing 747 adorned with the widely known cartoon character Waldo from the series “Where’s Waldo? (or “Where’s Wally?”), Richard Branson, the CEO of Virgin, wore a costume representing the beloved figure.
17. Out Of The Ocean
Around one-third of All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) A380 series was completed at the Airbus Paintshop in Hamburg, Germany. The airline’s Hawaiian sea turtle design is very appealing! ANA was the first customer to get the Japanese superjumbo, and the image shows the ANA A380s being given the same Hawaiian sea turtle pattern as the two prior A380s.
The plane is planned to fly to Hawaii, signifying a Narita-Honolulu route. Aside from the blue hue, there will be three other color schemes, the second being green and the third being orange. The ANA A380 is one of the most expansive projects of Airbus, and it required 21 days and 16 different colors to paint its 3,600m² surface area.
18. A National Symbol
Enthusiasts of Peter Pan are about to be incredibly pleased as Tinkerbell has been given the ability to soar! This stunning aircraft is the result of the collaboration between Disneyland and Alaska Airlines. Everyone who views this remarkable work of art will quickly desire to go to Disneyland and children will be pleading to take a flight on the plane.
19. Hungarian Air Force Mi-24V Hind
The Mil Mi-24 is a gigantic attack helicopter designed to give the highest possible firepower while consuming the least amount of space for carrying and transportation. There are two international versions of the same model, which are the Mi-35 and the Mi-25. It is not clear if the painting of this plane is either a display of excellent military tactics or just a careless mistake. Each detail has been painted to look like a bird of prey and this is the only plane of its kind that will ever be in the air.
20. Versailles In The Sky
If you are looking to make a statement with your private plane, unique designs are the way to go. If you want to attract the attention of the affluent and well-known, you must ensure you capture their gaze. A azure background combined with flying florals is the ideal romantic getaway. This is the perfect method of transporting yourself on a thrilling journey.
21. Brussels Airlines Tintin
Pictures of cartoon characters are often used to decorate the exteriors of airplanes, a practice which Brussels Airlines is honoring by painting a representation of their country’s famous figure Tintin.
The plane is decorated as a 37-meter long shark submarine from the story “Red Rackham’s Treasure,” with Tintin and his canine sidekick Snowy – or Milou in French – also featured. Passengers can also read books about Tintin in English, French and Dutch during the flight.
22. Holiday Cheer From Above
In this cheerful image, the typical colors of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II have been significantly transformed to represent the atmosphere of Christmas. It is astonishing to observe how many different festive details have been added onto the aircraft, including wings with Christmas decorations and reindeer as its engines. The stark contrast between this Santa-like large aircraft and the snowy environment is remarkable. Perhaps, instead of firing rockets, they should shoot off some seasonal firecrackers?
23. Swiss Air – San Francisco
To celebrate the launch of its Zurich-San Francisco non-stop service, Swiss Air gave one of its planes a special makeover. This eye-catching design included peace symbols, music notes, love hearts, and words written in a hippie-style font and shade. It took eight people and three days to paint the entire plane.
24. Western Pacific – The Simpsons Jet
In 1995, Western Pacific, an airline that is now defunct, decided to adorn one of their planes with characters from the well-known television series The Simpsons. This was one of the many advertisements they had painted on the plane. Bart, Homer, Lisa and Marge were all prominently featured on the side of the plane until the airline ceased operations in 1998.
25. The Duracell Plane
The C-130 Hercules in the picture is part of an ad campaign by Duracell to provide energy to the playthings of kids. The company linked up with Toys for Tots to hand out the stocks of AA batteries seen in the photo. It should be noted that these AA batteries were not the source of power for the C-130 Hercules, even though they are popular with a lot of people. We think the amusing battery theme of the C-130 Hercules is noteworthy, and the military motif of the aircraft also makes a striking image.
26. NATO Tiger Meet Pt. 2
The C-130 Hercules in the picture is part of an ad campaign by Duracell to provide energy to the playthings of kids. The company linked up with Toys for Tots to hand out the stocks of AA batteries seen in the photo. It should be noted that these AA batteries were not the source of power for the C-130 Hercules, even though they are popular with a lot of people. We think the amusing battery theme of the C-130 Hercules is noteworthy, and the military motif of the aircraft also makes a striking image.
27. Pokémon Airlines
Since the start of the 1990s, people have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a plane inspired by the Pokémon franchise. This finally happened in 1998 and it generated a lot of excitement. Consequently, ANA created a second aircraft based on Pokémon, which has since been retired; although the joy it brought to people will live on in their memories.
28. South West Airlines – SI One
In the year 2009, Bar Rafaeli, a world-renowned model, marked her appearance on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition by having her picture painted on the external surface of a South West Airlines plane. She was pictured only in her swimwear and the plane flew from New York to Las Vegas before the airline painted over the image later on in the year.
29. Azores Airlines — Whale
To honor the Azores being named a whale sanctuary, Azores Airlines, a Portuguese airline based in the Azores island chain in the Atlantic Ocean, painted a blue sperm whale on the exterior of one of their Airbus A330 planes.
The logo of the company, which is a whale tail, was also visible on the tail of the aircraft. After changing their name from SATA International, Azores Airlines decided to use a new design for the livery to signify the occasion.
30. Royal Netherlands F-16 Fighter Jet
We were lucky enough to photograph the Royal Dutch Air Force aerobatics team when they were flying the F-16 jets. Additionally, the Dutch Demoteam also flew the AH-64D Apache Solo Display Team and the AH-64 Apache. The depicted F-16 is a wonderful illustration of an amazing show, and it was painted in its usual orange shade. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to witness the Dutch team’s performance before they retired. Nevertheless, we still have some remarkable helicopter designs in our collection!
31. Sci-Fi Spaceship
It is time to return to the traditional and intimidating appearance of the A-10! The olive drab green color scheme, and the intimidating nose job, can be enough to make anyone feel scared. Of all the creative ideas on this list, we had to include this classic military-influenced look. Making fighters appear less frightening can help pilots feel more secure and adversaries more afraid. Now that we have discussed the fearsome aspect of aircrafts, let us move on to the more attractive side.
32. Kulula Flying 101
A while back, there was a South African budget airline called Kulula that had a really creative painting on the outside of its plane. The Flying 101 painting featured illustrations of the airplane’s different parts.
On the front of the cockpit, there was an arrow with the words “Big cheese – Captain, My Captain!” written underneath that showed where the pilot was located. The “black box” flight data recorder was also pointed out with a big arrow. There has not been a better way to explain the parts of an aircraft since then.
33. The Rainbow Make-A-Wish Jet
It’s impossible to overlook the brilliant rainbow aircraft soaring over the horizon, bringing happiness. International Jet Aviation, a Denver-based aircraft management and rental company, contributed a Lear Jet model 35.
It has provided a special service to severely ill children around the world, giving them the opportunity to experience an exciting flight if they desire. This plane’s operations began in 1990 and has gone through various models over the years. Its last flight occurred in 2019, and we applaud its brilliant paint job and the good it did for unwell kids.
34. Having A Whale Of A Flight
Generally, when people visualize colorful aircraft, they envisage creatures such as eagles and tigers. Nonetheless, this specific paint job is unique, displaying a Beluga whale. Do you observe the noteworthy similarity? The person responsible for this artwork surely noted the massive size of the plane and chose to give it a befitting design – the greatest living organism for the largest commercial plane.
35. The Vintage Throwback
This Warthog’s impressive paint job was created to honour the airplanes that served in World War II. We may be looking at a war machine capable of causing large-scale destruction, but we also feel admiration and reverence for the artwork placed on it. Even the most hostile enemies will run away upon seeing the intimidating appearance of the Warthog, along with the high number of barrels.
36. All Nippon Airways – Fly Panda
In 2007, All Nippon Airlines celebrated twenty years of flights between Japan and China by adorning one of its planes with a panda, a revered animal in China. The aircraft is still in use and has been named “Fly Panda” as an apt homage.
37. The Winged Warrior
I am curious to know if the airplane has a rooster drawn on it or is this just my imagination? I suppose that it is the standard plane design, right? We are divided in opinion regarding whether this plane is amazing or just absurd. It certainly looks like a terrifying plane to be flying in. There is a vintage pilot’s outfit on the pilot which makes it look pretty attractive. The following pattern is equally strange but in a much more secure manner.
38. Maple Marvel
In 2018, Alaska Airlines ran an advertising campaign involving Inuit art to promote the movie Incredibles 2. The purpose was to bring together superheroes and this specific form of artwork. Unfortunately, some elderly people were very unhappy with having an Inuit star in the advertisement.
39. NATO Tiger Meet
In 2003, we were lucky to observe the NATO Tiger Meet’s Mirage 2000RDI 83/12-YL from EX 1/12. This aircraft had an especially intimidating military design, with exceptionally detailed eyes that were especially striking. Even though the appearance was remarkable, the Mirage didn’t take off from the runway, which was a pity.
40. Thai Airways – Royal Barge
To honor the Thai monarchy, Thai Airways adorned three of their planes with images of two customary regal boats, one on each side. These old watercraft extended from the wings of the aircraft and even had minuscule hand-painted figures to bring a hint of authenticity and Thai-style design.
41. Flying Fish
What is the mechanism behind this lovely fish-like aircraft’s ability to stay aloft in the sky? Its vibrant color scheme is easily recognizable by both children and adults. It is the SC-7 Skyvan 3-100 from the Czech Republic, operated by Pink Aviation. It is easy to fantasize about this plane delivering presents to the children of Eastern Europe. If Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was an A-10 Warthog, Santa Claus would be surprised. Although it may be a challenge to conjure up an image of this, it would be a great present for St. Nick.
42. The Incredible Airline
How is this gorgeous fish-like plane able to stay flying in the air? It is certainly eye catching, with a vivid color scheme that is visible to both children and adults. The plane pictured here is the SC-7 Skyvan 3-100 from the Czech Republic, operated by Pink Aviation. It’s hard not to think of this aircraft taking presents to children in Eastern Europe. Santa would be surprised if Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was a A-10 Warthog instead! It may be hard to believe, but it would be an excellent present for Santa.
43. Eva Air — Gudetama
Eva Air, which ferries passengers from Taipei to Tokyo, has incorporated the beloved Sanrio cartoon figure Gudetama into its plane design. This lazy egg yolk character is often seen underneath a bacon blanket, so its no surprise that the aircraft’s interior is painted a bright egg-yolk yellow.
Gudetama is featured on cups, cards and cushions throughout the plane. Sanrio’s Hello Kitty is also well-known for her travelling adventures around the world, having been showcased on aircraft, bullet trains and lounges in Taipei Airport.
44. Nok Air – Bird
Nok Air, based in Thailand, is named after a Thai word for “bird.” To honor this, the airline has adorned their planes so they resemble birds, with a brightly colored beak painted on the nose and unique designs and hues to represent feathers.
45. Delta Airlines – Pink Plane
In 2005, Delta Airlines made clear their support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by adding a pink paint scheme to their planes and the ribbon logo of the foundation to the nose of the aircraft. Additionally, the employees of the airline donned pink uniforms and provided pink accessories such as lemonade and headsets to their passengers while in flight.
46. Light Up The Sky
Icelandair Stopover, the airline based in Iceland, made a decision to decorate one of its planes with a representation of the aurora borealis. The people of Iceland were thrilled to have the northern lights, a natural phenomenon endemic to the country, celebrated in this manner. This plane design will remain an iconic one for a long time. Passengers should make sure to bring along their Poke balls before taking off!
47. The Airforce Is Strong
It is evident that the three aircraft from All Nippon Airways, which are bedecked with Star Wars droid ideas, were a hit! Many individuals may be curious about travelling with this airline after looking at the crafts modeled after R2D2, BB-8, and C3PO. Anything that is adorned with the Star Wars logo is likely to entice customers, and who wouldn’t want to fly on an aircraft with a Star Wars concept? We already have arrangements to do so. Another airline is following up.
48. Aeroflot – Olympics
In 2008, the Russian airline Aeroflot painted one of their planes in a red and silver pattern to show support for Russia’s Olympic team. The special aircraft travelled back and forth between Moscow and Beijing multiple times, carrying Russian athletes, politicians, and VIPs to and from the games. The aircraft featured a design that was identical to the outfits worn by Team Russia.
49. Singapore Airlines – Tropical Megatop
In the late 1990’s, Singapore Airlines decided to promote their new first class and business class service by painting two Boeing 747’s with a special design called the “Tropical Megatop”. Sadly, one of these planes, Singapore Airlines flight 006, crashed in Taiwan on its way to Las Vegas, leading to the death of 83 people. As a result, the other aircraft was repainted, and the “Tropical Megatop” no longer exists.
50. Jetstar — Singaporeans
In 2015, Jetstar marked Singapore’s 50th anniversary by introducing a special design with the images of 50 common Singaporeans. Michael Ng, a local artist, included the faces of those selected as “unsung heroes” through a nomination process of their friends, family, and the public. This pop art-style makeover featured Singaporean icons, such as a woman who left her corporate job to assist underprivileged people in Cambodia.
51. Digital Russians
The Russians are incredibly stylish when it comes to art. Their digital-camouflaged look is one of the most famous military designs. People who are familiar with the US Air Force may remember the F-16 from a few years ago that had this paint job, forming an interesting connection. It’s understandable that the USAF may not have been too creative since the Sukhoi Su-57 was almost a duplicate of the F-22 Raptor. Now, let’s move from fast to electric.
52. Flying Droids
ANA Airlines developed a massive airplane specifically for All Nippon Airways to commemorate R2D2 from the Star Wars franchise. This skillful creator gave the aircraft the appearance of the beloved droid from the movies. Despite the fact that Star Wars aficionados will have to wait a little longer for their own plane, this one is definitely a hit.
53. Air New Zealand ‘Lord of the Rings’
After the discharge of the “Lord of the Rings” set of three movies, numerous travelers rushed to New Zealand to pay tribute to the Oscar-winning films. The country’s primary airline made it a point to get in on the fun, with LOTR-style Air New Zealand planes and a flight safety video featuring the movie stars in their respective roles.
54. Feathered Feats
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft with its Nokair livery is the most entertaining plane design we have come across. Nokair Airlines is renowned for its amusing corporate culture and they have several planes with animal designs, but this one is particularly entertaining. Nokair Airlines is well-known for its humorous approach and this rooster-inspired jet is just one of the manifestations of that. Usually, passenger jets fly at speeds lower than 1,000 miles per hour, making this one an extraordinary exception.
55. Papua New Guinea — AIR
About seven million inhabitants occupy Papua New Guinea, most of whom speak 800 languages. The land of Southeast Asia is both secluded and rocky, leaving air travel to be a main form of transportation. In order to represent the country’s varied culture, PNG Air designed a special paint job for their ATR 72-600 aircraft, incorporating icons from numerous areas. He was hardly noticeable, but a little man was also included in the design.
56. Jackson Pollock’s Plane
This is an uncommon and special private aircraft. The M3 Charter Jet is painted with a green hue and has yellow, red, blue, and black splotches, looking like a creation of the famous artist Jackson Pollock. Experiencing a flight in this plane is sure to be an unforgettable experience! At some point in the future, you will have the possibility to…
57. KLM Delft
The Dutch city of Delft is recognized for its iconic blue-and-white ceramics. As a gesture of admiration, the Dutch airline KLM adorned a few of its planes with the renowned design.
58. Lufthansa – Football Nose
In 2006, when the FIFA World Cup was held in Germany, Lufthansa decided to show their enthusiasm by decorating the fronts of 40 of their aircrafts with a painted soccer ball.
59. The Terror Of The Skies
It is time to move away from the attractive designs and back to the regular appearance of the A-10! The olive drab green colouring, as well as the menacing looking nose, is fairly intimidating. Out of all the imaginative ideas on this list, we just had to feature this traditional war-inspired paint job that is enough to make terrorists flee in fear.
Making military airplanes look more inviting is a fantastic way to make pilots more self-assured and enemies more terrified. That is enough about the battle-like appearance; let us go back to the attractive side of aircraft.
60. Austrian Airlines – Wiener Philharmoniker
Vienna is acknowledged for its extraordinary classical music culture, as it is home to several notable composers, orchestras, ballets, and artists. To celebrate this, Austrian Airlines, the airline that serves Vienna, created a special paint job for one of its planes that featured various classical instruments such as violins, bassoons, and cellos. This aircraft was painted in 2006 but the artwork was unfortunately removed a year later, making the design no longer visible.
61. To Infinity, And Beyond!
It was a thrilling moment for all when Buzz Lightyear, the much-loved character, took to the skies in the real world! This was achieved through the collaboration between Pixar and China Eastern Airlines. Passengers on this Toy Story flight were given boarding passes with the movie’s theme, making the journey remarkable. Holding a souvenir of such a remarkable trip is a great way to remember it.
62. BA — Fashion
The Boeing 777-200 was adorned with a creative artwork that incorporated both eastern and western elements, reflecting the combination of impressionism and Chinese ink-and-wash painting. The focal points of the artwork were a bamboo and rose, symbolizing the harmony of different cultures. It required over 2,500 hours of work and the use of 186 stencils for it to be realized.
63. Etihad Airways – Formula 1
In 2009, Etihad Airways served as the official sponsor for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of Formula 1. To honor their commitment, they modified one of their planes with the colors typically seen in Formula 1 – red, black, and white – and painted the tail to look like a checkered flag.
64. Eva Air – Hello Kitty
To help support Taiwan’s tourism industry, Eva Air has teamed up with the well-known Hello Kitty brand to encourage more people to fly. Not just are there cute felines on the outside of the aircraft, but also on the plane seats, boarding passes, check-in desks, employee outfits, and food. That’s right – the plane even has meals that have been created and shaped to look like Hello Kitty characters.
65. Air France – Pepsi
There is no mistaking it, this is a Concorde! The Concorde is considered a remarkable feat of modern aviation. It has had many eye-catching paint jobs. In 1996, when Pepsi went through a branding change, Air France joined with them for a promotional campaign. The plane was completely painted blue, with the new Pepsi symbol on it, until 2003 when it was changed.
66. Qatar Airways — Barcelona
Qatar Airways has been in alliance with F.C. Barcelona since 2013 and in 2014, they presented a customized Boeing 777 with the team’s banner and insignia with the declaration, “A team that brings people together”.
The emblem on the plane has an impressive shading effect, which gives the feeling of motion while taking off. The colors of Barça, which is the Catalan name for the mix of crimson and blue, encompasses half of the aircraft.
67. Sportwear Liftoff
The Gulfstream G550 is a very costly private plane, even without the special Nike scheme. Nothing beats having a jet of your own and this one has a spectacular blend of navy and light blue that will make you speechless. It’s hard to find a personalized paint job as eye-catching as this one.
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