Livery of the Week: ANA’s R2-D2 Dreamliner

The airline has long maintained a close collaboration with the iconic film franchise.

An ANA 787-9 in a special Star Wars livery (Photo: Shutterstock)

[ Livery of the Week ]April 19, 2024 4:27 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present 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.

In 2015, All Nippon Airways (ANA) unveiled a special Star Wars-themed livery featuring the iconic R2-D2 droid. This unique design transformed a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into a flying tribute to the beloved film character.

The R2-D2 livery mirrored the droid’s classic blue, white, and silver color scheme. The airplane’s fuselage became a canvas for R2-D2’s dome and panels, meticulously recreated in detail. Passengers and planespotters alike can even spot the droid’s signature red, white, and blue markings alongside its various hatches and instruments.

The design for this special collaboration was first debuted in early 2015 at a Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Calif. It joins other ANA aircraft that are devoted to the movie franchise, including a Boeing 777-200 painted like the C-3PO character.

ANA’s special Star Wars livery (Photo: Shutterstock)

“Today the time has come to bring the ANA Star Wars project to life and we hope Star Wars fans across the world will be as excited about our R2-D2 ANA Jet as we are,” said Hideki Kunugi, Senior Vice President of the Americas at ANA in a 2015 press release. “At ANA we’re always looking for ways to improve the flying experience for our passengers, and what better way to start your trip to Asia than on a one-of-a-kind Star Wars plane?”

According to ANA, the R2-D2 livery marked the first time a Star Wars character appeared on a commercial aircraft. It captured the imagination of Star Wars fans and aviation enthusiasts alike, bringing a touch of intergalactic fun to the skies.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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