Stealth777 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 360 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 3893 times:
Ok it's been several occasions where I have seen VS arrive SFO, but by the cockpit the young lady carrying the British flag is no more. The aircraft I saw today was G-VHOT and she didn't have it on her. I also haven't seen it on the "other" VS 747's (but cant be sure of the other regs since I am spotting from my office window). I looked in the database but could not find one that did not have the lady upfront except for G-VFAB (that's of course she's in the birthday scheme). Can anyone else confirm what my eyes keeps on seeing with VS or are my eyes playing some pretty good tricks on me.
Aussiestu From Australia, joined Mar 2001, 780 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 3837 times:
Have to say that I have not seen a VS lady without the flag except VFAB with the birthday flag. And what a beautiful sight she is! Anyone with a latest shot may atest to your info but have to say all the girls I see have the flag flying.
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16896 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 3742 times:
The livery on G-VFAB was a one-off special "Birthday Girl" livery celebrating the airline's 21st birthday. The rest of the fleet maintains the Vargas Girl pinup in the usual location on the fuselage.
Stealth777 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 360 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3611 times:
Alright Just saw G-VHOT (got the reg from passur) taxi out. The lady is missing and from I can see with the sun reflecting on the body, It has been painted over and it also appears the titles have changed slightly. I wonder if she's the next one to be repainted into the new livery, or maybe she was going to be but becuase of the needed capacity they are going to wait until the summer season is over. So I saw it twice today and both sides did not have the lady. someone catch her on her arrival tomorrow (Aug. 14) at LHR and prove I am not going crazy..
Flytuitravel From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 723 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 3471 times:
Nighthawk From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 4992 posts, RR: 38 Reply 6, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3285 times:
I remember reading a while ago that there were a few issues with virgin wanting to start flights to the middle east, as the lady on the fuselage would be seen as offensive over there.
Perhaps virgin has a couple of aircraft without the lady, which are used for service to such countries?
VgnAtl747 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 1492 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 3140 times:
I flew -VHOT a couple weeks ago EWR-LHR-EWR... there was no lady present on either side of the aircraft.
Stealth777 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 360 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2994 times:
Thank you VGNATL. I knew I wasn't losing my mind or sight. Just surprised it took this long to validate what I saw.
OB1504 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2974 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2986 times:
Quoting Revo (Reply 7): VS were told to remove the lady as it was thought to be offensive.
Let's hope G-VFAB is never subbed onto a Middle Eastern flight, then!
SevenHeavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 1127 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2885 times:
G-VHOT has been missing the flying lady decals for a good couple of months now. It is the only aircraft (except for G-VFAB which is still in the one-off birthday girl livery) without it and there are no plans (that I know of) to actively remove her from the fleet.
G-VHOT did have the profile of the flying lady painted over in a union jack design for a relief flight to Basra a couple of years back but this is unrelated. I believe they were removed for some kind of maintainence/skin inspection and new ones have yet to be applied.
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4041 posts, RR: 55 Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2774 times:
Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 6): I remember reading a while ago that there were a few issues with virgin wanting to start flights to the middle east, as the lady on the fuselage would be seen as offensive over there.
Well they certainly don't mind her in Dubai !!.
IIRC that is one of the reasons VS chose not to fly to Saudi Arabia after BA pulled out, despite being asked to by the British Government, as they were not prepared to remove the Varga Girl from the aircraft.
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
Scott0305 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 196 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2723 times:
Sad. It's not like it is a swastica or anything. Would any of the US airlines remove the US flag if it were offensive to any middle easterners while on the ground there....I think not. Put the girl back and stop being silly.
Scott0305 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 196 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2687 times:
Quoting Leezyjet (Reply 16): Woah easy there tiger. Did you not read the whole thread, or in particular the reply posted by SevenHeavy ?.
I did but I also read reply 7 by Revo.
Perhaps I should rephrase. If it is indeed the case that the lady has been removed because she is seen to be offensive in places where oppresive regimes limit the rights of women then VS should put her back. If it is just a maintenance thing then I withdraw my comment.
SevenHeavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 1127 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2645 times:
Quoting Revo (Reply 7): VS were told to remove the lady as it was thought to be offensive.
Not true. May I ask your source?
As previously pointed out VS fly into the Middle east, Africa and India and do not experience any issues with the current (or any previous) livery.
As I said it was essentially a maintainence issue, nothing more.
Stealth777 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 360 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2570 times:
so does that mean she'll be next to be painted into the new scheme?
Anglo2 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 1605 times:
Go on Virgin keep the girl and sod those who find it offensive. I suppose next the female crew members will have to cover up from head to to just keep every one happy.
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 21, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 1532 times:
Quoting Leezyjet (Reply 14): IIRC that is one of the reasons VS chose not to fly to Saudi Arabia after BA pulled out, despite being asked to by the British Government, as they were not prepared to remove the Varga Girl from the aircraft.
VS did cover up the Flag Carrying Lady when flying to Basra for a special charter. They simply put a decal over it with the Union Jack.
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Just surprised it took this long to validate what I saw.
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