Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.
Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.
Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, dons a touch of nostalgia on one of its Boeing 747-8i aircraft. This special livery harkened back to a bygone era of aviation, honoring the airline’s long-standing history.
The Boeing 747-8i, registration D-ABYT, sports a design reminiscent of Lufthansa’s earlier 747 aircraft. The aircraft featured a prominent crane, the airline’s symbol, on a dark blue tail. The fuselage displayed the airline’s name in a bold, classic typeface.
This retro design wasn’t an exact replica though. Modern aircraft construction utilizes composite materials, making a true bare metal finish – a common feature in older liveries – impractical. To compensate, Lufthansa opted for a painted grey underbelly, offering a close homage to the original look.
Other Retro Liveries
The Boeing 747-8i with the retro livery wasn’t Lufthansa’s first foray into the past. In 2005, to celebrate its 50th anniversary since postwar operations, the airline introduced a retro design on an Airbus A321. This particular A321, registration D-AIDV, continues to fly in the commemorative livery.
First unveiled in 2015, the retro Boeing 747-8i served as a reminder of Lufthansa’s long and storied journey in the airline industry. The carrier has a long history with the Queen of the Skies, too, operating the 747-100, 747-200, 747-400, and 747-8i series.
Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.
