Landor

Jazajia

Well-known member

Just like it is for many other aviation enthusiasts, the British Airways Landor livery is one of my all-time favorites. This year there has been quite a bit going on in the die-cast world around this iconic livery with a lot of releases and announcements (most of them rather controversial) You can click here if you want to see how the early 2023 Landor 747-100 and -200 released by Phoenix turned out.

On a personal level, one of my first purchases of 2023 put an end to a multi-year hunt for a 1:400 scale British Airways Concorde in the Landor livery (GeminiJets G-BOAB). And as if that wasn’t enough, a few months later I found the only other BA Landor Concorde in 1:400 scale (Herpa G-BOAE).

Two 1:400 scale models of British Airways Concorde Aircraft in the Landor livery


British Airways Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde 102. Left - GeminiJets G-BOAB. Right - Herpa G-BOAE​



With all this happening I think it is a good time to share my thoughts on why the British Airways Landor livery is liked so much by many.

His name was Walter Landor, a genius of corporate branding and the creator of Landor Associates (today Landor & Fitch). The company is behind some of the most iconic corporate images around the world. In the commercial aviation industry dozens of flag carriers ow their public image to Landor. But among all of the airlines that have, or have had, the name Landor attached to their liveries and corporate images, British Airways is probably the one that stands out the most.

In 1984 British Airways as we know it today was only ten years old, though its roots can be traced back for about a century, and it was then when the airline resourced to Landor associates in search of a new corporate image.

A few years later, in February 1987 (only a few months before I was born) the airline was privatized, and a rapid growth campaign that was already underway intensified. As a result, I grew up during a time in which British Airways was doing the same and proudly displaying its eye-catching Landor livery and corporate image.

British Airways' Landor livery consisted of a midnight blue belly that extend right up to the bottom of the passenger windows line, where it met with a pearl grey that covered the entire top of the fuselage. Along the midnight blue belly ran a long subtle “brilliant red” line that culminated on the lower forward fuselage with the Speedwing logo. The company titles were located on the upper forward fuselage, just above the passenger windows. The tail design consisted of a quarter of the Union flag with the British Airways Coat of Arms prominently displayed on the top section of it.


Scale aircraft model of a British Airways Lockheed L1011-200 TriStar registered as G-BHBR made by NG Models in 1:400 scale

British Airways Lockheed L1011-200 TriStar G-BHBR NG Models 1:400​


In spite of the rather dull pearl grey top cover, the contrast with the midnight blue belly, and the accent given by the brilliant red of the Speedwing gave a fresh and lively touch to the otherwise profoundly elegant livery.

The livery seemed to have been tailored for the 747. The aircraft’s main deck window line position in relation to the nose cone was such that the split between the blue belly and grey top cut right through the middle of the radome, making the livery look particularly sharp when applied to the jumbos. The British Airways titles stood prominently, framed by the enlarged forward fuselage area resulting from the jumbo’s upper deck. The livery looked its best on the 747-400, whose longer upper deck allowed the titles to be enlarged.


Scale aircraft model of a British Airways Boeing 747-136 registered G-AWNP made by Phoenix Models in 1:400 scale.

British Airways Boeing 747-136 G-AWNP Phoenix Models 1:400



Scale model aircraft of a British Airways Boeing 747-436 registered G-CIVI made by GeminiJets in 1:400 scale

British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVI GeminiJets 1:400​


The livery was also well suited for other widebody aircraft, though I have always thought that the #2 engine of the DC-10s did get in the way of the tail artwork. On narrowbody aircraft, while still stylish, the livery didn’t always fit as neatly as it did on the big boys, particularly the 747s.

An exception to this is, of course, Concorde, which due to technical reasons had to wear a mostly white adaptation of the livery that suited the aircraft perfectly. It is by far the best attire that Concorde ever wore.


Scale model of a British Airways Concorde in the Landor livery registered G-BOAE

British Airways Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde 102C G-BOAE Herpa 1:400​


Luckily, those of us outside of Europe were mostly exposed to British Airways' long-haul fleet, which meant that we got used to seeing the Landor livery displayed on the aircraft on which it tended to look its best! Sadly, in 1997 British Airways started to phase out the Landor livery with the introduction of the Utopia World Tails and eventually standardized the fleet with the Chatham Dockyard artwork, which was one of the World Tails designs of the Utopia campaign. The Chatham Dockyard livery is not ugly, but I find it underwhelming and fails to stand out in the same way the Landor livery did.


A photo portraying two 1:400 scale models of British Airways aircraft, a 747 and a Concorde. The aircraft appear to be in flight.

British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVI and Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde 102 G-BOAB. In flight staged shot. GeminiJets 1:400​

For me, the Landor livery inspired a lot of respect and admiration due to its elegance. But its freshness also made it look approachable and inviting. British Airways’ Landor livery fitted perfectly the image that I had of the United Kingdom as a nation with a long history and a significant influence worldwide. I would not have expected the aircraft of the country’s flag carrier to look any other way. I think Landor did well in creating a corporate image that perfectly encapsulated the essence of the airline and, to me, it will always be the firm’s masterpiece.


A Collection of British Airways Aircraft in the Landor Livery in 1:400 Scale.

Collection of British Airways Aircraft in the Landor Livery in 1:400 Scale.​
 
Definitely need to get a pic of all my Landor Together! Hopefully in December, definitely preferred World Tails growing up but now I can apprec Landor

Current Landor Fleet

British Airways BAE146 “Landor” GJ
British Airways A320-100 “Landor” AC
British Airways A320-200 “Landor” AC
British Airways 732 “Landor” AC
British Airways 732 “Landor/WBO” AC
British Airways 747 “Landor/Special” YC
British Airways 747 “Landor” YC
British Airways 747 “Landor” G-CIVI GJ
British Airways 747 “Landor” G-CIVI GJ
British Airways 747 “Landor/WBO” PHX
British Asia Airways 747 “Landor” GJ
British Airways 741 “Landor” PHX
British Airways 742 “Landor” IF
British Airways 742 “Landor/WBO” PHX
British Airways 757 “Landor” NG
British Airways 757 “Landor/WBO” NG
British Airways 757 “Landor/PTR” NG
British Airways 767 “Landor” GJ
British Airways 767 “Hybrid” BB
British Airways 767 “Landor/WBO” BB
British Airways 777 “Landor” PHX
British Airways 777 “Landor” GJ
British Airways L1011 “Landor” NG
British Airways L1011 “Landor” NG
British Airways L1011 “Landor” GJ
British Airways L1011 “Landor” BB
British Airways DC10 “Landor” GJ
 
Definitely need to get a pic of all my Landor Together! Hopefully in December, definitely preferred World Tails growing up but now I can apprec Landor

Current Landor Fleet

British Airways BAE146 “Landor” GJ
British Airways A320-100 “Landor” AC
British Airways A320-200 “Landor” AC
British Airways 732 “Landor” AC
British Airways 732 “Landor/WBO” AC
British Airways 747 “Landor/Special” YC
British Airways 747 “Landor” YC
British Airways 747 “Landor” G-CIVI GJ
British Airways 747 “Landor” G-CIVI GJ
British Airways 747 “Landor/WBO” PHX
British Asia Airways 747 “Landor” GJ
British Airways 741 “Landor” PHX
British Airways 742 “Landor” IF
British Airways 742 “Landor/WBO” PHX
British Airways 757 “Landor” NG
British Airways 757 “Landor/WBO” NG
British Airways 757 “Landor/PTR” NG
British Airways 767 “Landor” GJ
British Airways 767 “Hybrid” BB
British Airways 767 “Landor/WBO” BB
British Airways 777 “Landor” PHX
British Airways 777 “Landor” GJ
British Airways L1011 “Landor” NG
British Airways L1011 “Landor” NG
British Airways L1011 “Landor” GJ
British Airways L1011 “Landor” BB
British Airways DC10 “Landor”
Wow very impressive fleet
 
Definitely need to get a pic of all my Landor Together! Hopefully in December, definitely preferred World Tails growing up but now I can apprec Landor
I hear you, we tend to like the liveries we grew up with. I can see how some people might see the Landor livery as too old and vintage. Probably the same way I see the Negus livery (archaic), but I have also learned how to appreciate those older liveries.

World tails are okay, but I have always seen them as the livery that took Landor away lol. Maybe when they replace the Chatham Dockyard livery I will start to like it from a nostalgic point of view haha.
 
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i have been searching for a Concorde 1:400 scale in Landor as i do have one in the new design, but the landor was the best on Concorde imo
 
An excellent documentation of an excellent livery! Great collection, I’m hoping to tick off a few more boxes when NG starts making 747 classics!
Oh yeah, I could still get a few more Landor 747s until I am satisfied :giggle:. Especially since most Landor 747s in 1:400 scale have mistakes be it the livery or the mold. That 747-400 by GJ G-CIVI I think is about the best BA Landor 747 in 1:400 scale. though some people might prefer the BigBir, even with the wrong font.
 
I hear you, we tend to like the liveries we grew up with. I can see how some people might see the Landor livery as too old and vintage. Probably the same way I see the Negus livery (archaic), but I have also learned how to appreciate those older liveries.

World tails are okay, but I have always seen them as the livery that took Landor away lol. Maybe when they replace the Chatham Dockyard livery I will start to like it from a nostalgic point of view haha.
I’m different. I tend to like airline liveries about 10-20 years before my time for some reason.
 
i have been searching for a Concorde 1:400 scale in Landor as i do have one in the new design, but the landor was the best on Concorde imo
Those are, unfortunately, very hard to come by. I hunted them for about 3 years until finally I was able to grab one GJ out of the Waffle sales. The Herpa one came from eBay, nobody bid on it, probably because it was located in Ukraine (?), but still was expensive with shipping and all.
 
Now that we see some Landor fantasy models coming up like the NG 777W and the JC 747 800. What are the other Landor fantasy everyone wants to see. I hope for an A350-1000 Landor from NG
 
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