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.
Last Update: 21 Jan 2010
Scheme
Country
Artwork
Photos
Animals and Trees
Kalahari Desert
Benyhone Tartan
Scotland
Blomsterang (Flower Field)
Sweden
Blue Poole
England
British Olympic Team
England
Chelsea Rose
England
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
Wunala Dreaming
Australia
Youm-al-Souq
Saudi Arabia
Scheme
Country
Artwork
Photos
Avignon
Germany
Bauhaus
Germany
Bavaria
Germany
Calligraphy
Germany
Scheme
Country
Artwork
Photos
Landor
England
Union Jack
England
* 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!