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Qantas to unveil retro livery on 75th 737-800

written by australianaviation.com.au | October 8, 2014

 

Qantas 707-138
The iconic flying kangaroo logo adorns the fin of this Qantas 707-138B.

Qantas is to mark 70 years of the flying kangaroo by unveiling its first “retro” aircraft livery, which will feature on a Boeing 737-800 due to be delivered next month.

The 737-800, due to arrive in Australia on November 19, will be the 75th to join the Qantas fleet, and its painting in an as yet undisclosed retro scheme featuring the flying kanagaroo will mark the 70th anniversary of the kangaroo appearing on a Qantas aircraft for the first time.

The first Qantas aircraft to wear a kangaroo logo was Liberator G-AGKT in 1944. A converted ex RAF LB-30 Liberator bomber, one of four Qantas would operate, G-AGKT was fitted with long-range fuel tanks and could seat 15 passengers, and was used on flights to Colombo in what is now Sri Lanka. Qantas co-founder and chairman Hudson Fysh dubbed the flights the “Kangaroo Service” – thought to be due to the long nonstop “hop” between Learmonth, WA and Colombo – to link with BOAC flights onwards to London.

The iconic winged kangaroo symbol was then introduced in 1947 on the airline’s Lockheed Constellations. A 1984 re-design saw the kangaroo logo lose its wings, while the current livery was introduced in 2007.

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“Our kangaroo logo represents our proud history, inextricably linked with the development of commercial aviation in Australia. It has also become a symbol of ‘home’ to Australians travelling both here and abroad,” Qantas group executive for brand, marketing and corporate affairs, Olivia Wirth said in a statement on Wendesday.

“A retro livery is the perfect tribute to our iconic flying kangaroo logo and its 70th anniversary.”

The retro schemed 737 will be 737-838 VH-XZP msn 44577, which is the last 737-800 currently on order for Qantas.

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Comments (12)

  • paul Noake

    says:

    Awesome news will be great to see

  • paul Noake

    says:

    When will it be delivered

  • marc

    says:

    Looking forward to seeing it. I think should also retro up an A380 with the above livery I think that would look great

  • John

    says:

    Did you read the article Marc? It says it in there.. 19th Nov.

  • Geoff

    says:

    Fantastic Qantas. Well done.

  • John Harrison

    says:

    That’s great news, how about one of the B747-438s as well in livery of the 1st delivered B747-238Bs now that really would be some thing to see. I guess its all about money, but would be nice to see the preserved B747 up at Longreach painted back into original colours too.
    Just a thought.

  • Ted Hobson

    says:

    Thank Heaven it’s going on a Boeing.

  • Stu Bee

    says:

    Call me a pessimist but last time I was out to Brisbane I saw plenty of Qantas aircraft in the retro 1984 livery!
    Oh wait…

  • Russell M

    says:

    If only they could bring back a bit of retro service and care for their customers as well. I’d love to see 1990’s Australian Airlines a/craft AND service return to Australian skies. Oh hang on – yes, its called Virgin Australia now. 🙂

  • Ron C

    says:

    Better still, how about a retro CEO?

  • Lee S

    says:

    Russell; Did you mean TRANS Australia Airlines (TAA)? But if we’re looking for well-known Australian airlines, why not also resurrect an Ansett (or even more retro) an Ansett-ANA aeroplane?

  • garry finnigan

    says:

    would be great to see the retro colors, on the best airline ( Qantas ) in the world

    Garry F

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