This livery is a hallmark of the Southwest fleet.
Southwest Lone Star One livery (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)
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.Â
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The “Lone Star One” livery adorns a Southwest Boeing 737-800, standing as a flying tribute to the airline’s home state of Texas. The design is a clear visual representation of the Texas state flag, incorporating the celebrated lone white star alongside the familiar red, white, and blue hues.
This lone star serves as the central emblem, directly referencing the “Lone Star State” nickname of Texas.
Lone Star One (Photo: Southwest)
Adding further to the Texan theme, the engine cowlings are painted in solid blocks of red and blue, directly mirroring the colors found in the state flag. Along the rear half of the fuselage, dynamic red waves are painted, with a band of white situated above them, continuing the visual connection to the Texas flag’s design. Notably, the winglets on the “Lone Star One” deviate from Southwest’s typical livery, featuring a neutral grayish-white color, a characteristic shared among the airline’s various special liveries.
The “Lone Star One” holds the distinction of being the inaugural state-themed livery introduced by Southwest Airlines. It first took to the skies on November 7, 1990, adorned on a Boeing 737-300 aircraft bearing the registration N352SW. This original “Lone Star One” faithfully served Southwest for over a quarter of a century, accumulating an impressive track record of more than 80,000 flight hours before its retirement in 2016.
Southwest ensured its continuation by transferring the livery first to a Boeing 737-700 (N931WN) and, most recently, in February 2024, to a newer Boeing 737-800 aircraft (N8660A).
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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Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline…
Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline…
Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline…
