Yankeejuliet From Jamaica, joined Sep 2008, 158 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3100 times:
Artist Alexander Calder was commissioned to apply a multicolor promotional art work on DC-62 N1805 45899/304 by CEO of Braniff International Airways in 1969. This venture was a success as it revolutionised the use of attractive liveries on aircraft world wide. What other airline used the art of Calder on their liveries?
MrSkyGuy From United States of America, joined Aug 2008, 1203 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3076 times:
Being somewhat of a Braniff enthusiast, I love seeing/reading about mentions of Calder's work. Calder was contracted to Braniff rather late in his life and career, and as a result he only painted 2 planes for Braniff--the Calder DC-8 and a 727. There were other 727's in the works, but Calder passed away before they were painted and Braniff was soon awash in mounting debts.
To answer your question, I believe only Braniff had the luxury of Calder's work on a commercial aircraft. Calder was a mobile artist long before he was known for painting Braniff's planes, so his work lives on! Google Calder and you'll be surprised to find that many of his mobile artworks are still available for public viewing in the USA (and perhaps abroad).
"The strength of the turbulence is directly proportional to the temperature of your coffee." -- Gunter's 2nd Law of Air
Maxpower1954 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 854 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2981 times:
I've flown both these a/c post-Braniff; the DC-8 at Arrow Air and the 727 with World Airways.
SANAV8R From United States of America, joined Mar 2009, 215 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2974 times:
He was working on a third aircraft at his death. "Flying Colors of Mexico" on a 727, and similar to "Flying Colors of United States", although it utilized more colors besides blue and red and I think four models were painted, but he died finishing them. They ended up being sent to Braniff's Dallas headquarters and staying there and never applied to any Braniff plane.
Tb727 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1374 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 2738 times:
I was just in Grand Rapids(MI) at the Meijer Gardens last week and they had a pretty big model of the 727 in his small gallery there. I wanted to put it in the back of my truck and take it home but I don't think I would have gotten away with it. I of course pointed some facts out to the girl I took there about the 727 to try and impress her. Not sure if it worked just yet.
Airnerd From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 250 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2636 times:
What I really like about the Calder designs is that they don't say Braniff on them anywhere - at least that I could tell. This compared to the special liveries of today that typically retain the standard airline names/logos/etc. These Calder planes are really art pieces.
PI4EVER From United States of America, joined May 2009, 599 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 2572 times:
I too flew the Calder 727 on a trip from IAH to ACA. The crew advised me the ship was nicknamed "Sneaky Snake" because it was infamous for tech problems/hangar queen honors, but performed flawlessly for my two segments on it.
I saw the Calder DC-8 once in MIA, and in addition to the famous Flying Colors campaign in general, these aircraft stood out from the rest at any airport. Crews also reported many passengers wanted to know why they were flying on "Calder Airways."
In the final, I think the "Ultra" color scheme was the most beautiful and classy. The DC-8's and 727's in those ultra colors were stunning. You never saw a BN plane in "Euro" white!
Speaking of Euro white, Jan Carlzon wrote in his book "Moments of Truth" that he created the Euro white scheme for SAS to simply make the airplanes appear bigger, and insisted they remain clean. Read the book AF.
If you are in any customer contact type position, in any industry, curl up with this book and realize how important little things can impact your customer's perspective of you and your company. It will add a smile or a bounce in your step the next day you are out the door to work to greet, meet or interact with your first customer. It became required reading at my Company.
Thanks again BN for the end of the "plain plane."
Thomas
Rampart From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2851 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 2515 times:
Art is temporary, I suppose. What a loss to have Flying Colors repainted into Rich International.
Sparky35805 From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 243 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2223 times:
Both are right.Sneaky Snake was because of the design on the engine,but the aircraft,an ex Frontier 727-291 was known as a hangar queen.
Sparky
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