Texasflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 79 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1492 times:
I was wondering if everyone could contribute and say if they know what the symbols stand for on the fins of the worlds airlines. I wish I knew some of them. But my only addition to this subject is that I know that AA stands for American Airlines. I'm smart huh? jk. I know we've discused which ones look good, but now what do the symbols stand for. Like Iran Air, Lufthansa, Alaskan Airlines, JAL, Singapore Airlines...etc.
Thanks
We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it. Thomas Jefferson
Texasflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 79 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1476 times:
Oh, by the way you can check out my tails photo album for some pics of those fins.
We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it. Thomas Jefferson
FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1414 times:
Alaska's Eskimo is named Chester. It is rumored that he is a likeness of Chester Seevek. Chester Seevek was an Eskimo who was hired by Wien Airlines to greet tourists in Kotzebue and demonstrate Eskimo dances. Wien flew him and his wife around the country and to Japan for publicity purposes. He also appeared in the movie Ice Palace.
AMSSpotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2005, 271 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1397 times:
The crown on top of the KLM letters makes it a "royal" airline (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines), meaning that they officially cater to the Dutch royal family. I think that the crown would even have to be removed if they were to no longer provide any services to the royal family on an official basis...
Mats From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 587 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1380 times:
For the logos that are not completely obvious:
Aerolíneas Argentinas: a condor
Air France: a seahorse
Air New Zealand: the Koru (a traditional Maori symbol)
Aloha Airlines: a bird of paradise
British Airways: the "Speedwing" derived from the older BOAC logo
British West Indian Airways: a steel drum
Eastern Airlines: a falcon
Egyptair: The Horus
Hawaiian Airlines: the leilani: a woman with a hibiscus flower behind her
Iran Air: the Homa (seahorse)
Lufthansa: a crane
Thai: an orchid
Not sure on these:
Air Jamaica: I think it's a doctor bird
Air Tahiti Nui: I think it's also a hibiscus
China Airlines: not sure which flower that is
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 55 Reply 7, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1314 times:
One of the lesser known ones is the winged Moufflon found on Cyprus Airways tails. The moufflon is a sort of goat type animal found in the Cyprus mountains. So its a winged goat then - certainly original !!
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
The falcon was more than just a bird to the Ancient Egyptians. He represented the god Horus; the god of the sun and moon. His body was sometimes that of a bird and sometimes that of a man, yet his head was always that of a falcon. His right eye was the sun, and his left eye was the moon. Most importantly was that the great pharaohs were assumed to be his incarnation on earth.
HORUS was the son of OSIERS, who ruled in splendor with his wife ISIS, until one day in a fit of jealousy, his brother SETH slew him and tore his body into fourteen pieces - scattering the pieces all over the land.
While SETH ruled in his murdered brother’s place, ISIS searched the land of Egypt for her lost lord with her sister. The sun god RA, out of love and pity for OSIERS, sent the mortuary god ANUBIS to help embalm him. Following that, ISIS retired to raise her son, HORUS, near the city of Khemmis.
The Ancient Egyptians often recalled the story of the young god, HORUS, growing up in secret, hidden by his mother until “his arm grew strong, and he could show himself in court”. Even while the prince was fully grown, so continues the story, and had reached height of eight cubits, or almost fourteen feet, he had to have a chapel of half a cubit built in order to evade his uncle.
SETH, meanwhile, lived in the shadow of his guilt and fear of what would happen when HORUS reached maturity, and therefore, SETH was plotting against HORUS.
As time went by, HORUS did reach maturity, and, to Seth’s fury, his claim was upheld by the court. And so, HORUS went to war against his uncle, and although he was victorious, the battle was so fierce that he lost his eye.
HORUS devoted his eye to his father, out of love, and it was HORUS’ eye that enabled OSIERS to become a complete soul. Later on, “THE EYE OF HORUS” became the ultimate symbol of sacrifice, and was the most common offering in Ancient Egypt. In fact, the symbol of the eye became a powerful amulet for warding off evil.
HORUS’ victory brought about the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, and a period of peace and prosperity ensued. And thus, many areas adopted HORUS as their principal god.
HORUS was more than just a favorite god to the Ancient Egyptians. He represented all that a man could aspire to a brave warrior and a devoted son. It was he who accompanied the Pharaoh on his great journey; the one to the afterlife. It was also he whose winged falcon drove the sun and the moon across the sky.
It is evident that HORUS was more than just an ideal; he was a symbol of perfection. And for that particular reason, HORUS was chosen as Egypt Air’s logo.
t the great pharaohs were assumed to be his incarnation on earth.
HORUS was the son of OSIERS, who ruled in splendor with his wife ISIS, until one day in a fit of jealousy, his brother SETH slew him and tore his body into fourteen pieces - scattering the pieces all over the land.
While SETH ruled in his murdered brother’s place, ISIS searched the land of Egypt for her lost lord with her sister. The sun god RA, out of love and pity for OSIERS, sent the mortuary god ANUBIS to help embalm him. Following that, ISIS retired to raise her son, HORUS, near the city of Khemmis.
The Ancient Egyptians often recalled the story of the young god, HORUS, growing up in secret, hidden by his mother until “his arm grew strong, and he could show himself in court”. Even while the prince was fully grown, so continues the story, and had reached height of eight cubits, or almost fourteen feet, he had to have a chapel of half a cubit built in order to evade his uncle.
SETH, meanwhile, lived in the shadow of his guilt and fear of what would happen when HORUS reached maturity, and therefore, SETH was plotting against HORUS.
As time went by, HORUS did reach maturity, and, to Seth’s fury, his claim was upheld by the court. And so, HORUS went to war against his uncle, and although he was victorious, the battle was so fierce that he lost his eye.
HORUS devoted his eye to his father, out of love, and it was HORUS’ eye that enabled OSIERS to become a complete soul. Later on, “THE EYE OF HORUS” became the ultimate symbol of sacrifice, and was the most common offering in Ancient Egypt. In fact, the symbol of the eye became a powerful amulet for warding off evil.
HORUS’ victory brought about the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, and a period of peace and prosperity ensued. And thus, many areas adopted HORUS as their principal god.
HORUS was more than just a favorite god to the Ancient Egyptians. He represented all that a man could aspire to a brave warrior and a devoted son. It was he who accompanied the Pharaoh on his great journey; the one to the afterlife. It was also he whose winged falcon drove the sun and the moon across the sky.
It is evident that HORUS was more than just an ideal; he was a symbol of perfection. And for that particular reason, HORUS was chosen as Egypt Air’s logo.
Ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3494 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1168 times:
Quoting Mats (reply 6): Hawaiian Airlines: the leilani: a woman with a hibiscus flower behind her
Just a correction, her name is Pualani
Air Tahiti Nui tail logo is a Tiare Tahiti, a native gardenia in Tahiti.
China Airlines has a plum blossom.
JAL's livery is called, "Arc of the Sun," and the the sun is represented on the tail. Of course their old livery had a tsuru (crane).
Pronto From Canada, joined Mar 2000, 328 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 1106 times:
Air Canada - Maple Leaf, self explanatory
Air China - Phoenix, to bring good luck
Air Algerie - 2 letter code 'AH', in the shape of a bird
Air Malta - Maltese Cross, of course
Air Mauritius - Paille en Queu (tropical bird)
Garuda - namesake, sacred bird of Hinduism
Icelandair - flowing 'F' for Flugleidr, it's Icelandic name
Iran Air - the Homa - mythical bird of ancient Persia for good fortune and great strength
Korean Air - the 'Taeguk' - yin and yang
Malaysia - Kelantan kite
A lot of airlines have tail markings related to, or resembling their flags, and others have some type of stylized animal, mostly birds
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