British Airways really stirred things up with their "World Tails". People either loved them or hated them. Feelings were so strong that Margaret Thatcher gave the tails her thumbs down and the CEO of BA lost his job. In the mean time Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic Airlines capitalized on the situation calling his airline "Britain's Flag Carrier". Whatever the opinion you may have, these tails have proven to be a big hit with photographers!

Some of the art was applied with variations on different aircraft. The variations come from the application of different parts of the original artwork to the tails of the aircraft. In some cases, such as Crossing Borders; the variations result in unique tails. In other cases the variations are more subtle, for example; the Colum art on 747s G-BNLC and G-CIVP looks similar but is not the same.

Currently no aircraft remain in the World Tail colors.


* Artwork is used with permission from David Apps. Special thanks to David and Bryan L. for making many of these shots possible, especially the 747 shots!

Name

Country

Artwork *

Photos

Animals and Trees

Kalahari Desert

Bauhaus

Germany

Benyhone Tartan

Scotland

Benyhone Tartan
(British Asia Airways)

Blomsterang
(Flower Field)

Sweden

Blue Poole

England

British Olympic Team

England

Chelsea Rose

England

Chelsea Rose
(British Asia Airways)

Colors Down the Side

England

Colum (Dove)

Ireland

Crossing Borders

Egypt

Delftblue Daybreak

Netherlands

Golden Kohkhloma

Russia

Grand Union

England

Koguty Lowickie

Poland

Nalanji Dreaming

Australia

Ndebele Emmly

Africa

Ndebele Martha

Africa

Paithani

India

Rendezvous

Hong Kong

Spring Primavera

Romania

Water Dreaming

Australia

Waves & Cranes

Japan

Waves of the City

USA

Whale Rider

Canada

Wings

Denmark



(Qantas)

Wunala Dreaming

Australia

Youm-al-Souq

Saudi Arabia

Deutsche BA

Name

Country

Photos

Avignon

Germany


dba new colors

Bauhaus

Germany

Bavaria

Germany

Calligraphy

Germany

Landor and Union Jack

Name

Photos

Landor

Union Jack