BOAC Liveries 1940-1974
Below is a list of the liveries worn by BOAC aircraft throughout the carrier's history. Hybrid schemes are not shown. Main dates are years aircraft were actually painted in the colours. Dates in brackets are for years aircraft wore the schemes (thanks to 400Scalehangar member 'Hawaii' for those). During the war BOAC aircraft typically carried RAF silver or camouflage schemes.
1945-1949: Blue Speedbird Natural metal (1945-1951)
Natural metal fuselage, small BOAC titles and speedbird on nose. Large blue registration.
Natural metal fuselage, small BOAC titles and speedbird on nose. Large blue registration.
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1946-1949: Blue Cheatline Natural Metal
Some Connies wore a scheme with a blue cheatline. Photos courtesy of Adrian Balch |
1949: Stratocruiser Natural Metal
The first Stratocruisers wore a natural metal scheme with a speedbird and small BOAC titles near the nose and a large Union Jack on the tail. |
1949-1955: White Tail Twin Stripe (1949-1958)
A white fuselage with silver belly, blue Speedbird on the tail and two horizontal blue stripes. BOAC titles on fuselage with dots between letters.
A white fuselage with silver belly, blue Speedbird on the tail and two horizontal blue stripes. BOAC titles on fuselage with dots between letters.
1955-1965: Blue Tail Twin Stripe (1955-1966)
A white fuselage with silver belly, white Speedbird on blue tail and two horizontal blue stripes. BOAC titles on fuselage with dots between letters.
A white fuselage with silver belly, white Speedbird on blue tail and two horizontal blue stripes. BOAC titles on fuselage with dots between letters.
1962-1964: BOAC Cunard Blue Tail Twin Stripe
I can't find any photos but it is assumed that from 1962-1964 the BOAC Cunard 707s wore a variant of the standard BOAC scheme of the day. Airline was a joint venture with Cunard shipping to operate scheduled transatlantic routes with 707s usurping previous Cunard Eagle Airways arrangement.
1964: BOAC Cunard Meat Cleaver
As Meat Cleaver scheme below but with BOAC Cunard titles.
I can't find any photos but it is assumed that from 1962-1964 the BOAC Cunard 707s wore a variant of the standard BOAC scheme of the day. Airline was a joint venture with Cunard shipping to operate scheduled transatlantic routes with 707s usurping previous Cunard Eagle Airways arrangement.
1964: BOAC Cunard Meat Cleaver
As Meat Cleaver scheme below but with BOAC Cunard titles.
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1964: Meat Cleaver (1964-1966)
Gold speedbird on blue tail. Gold BOAC titles separated by dots inside thick blue cheatline which thins immediately after titles. Cheatline outlined in gold trim.
Gold speedbird on blue tail. Gold BOAC titles separated by dots inside thick blue cheatline which thins immediately after titles. Cheatline outlined in gold trim.
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1965-1970: Golden Speedbird (1965-1973)
Gold speedbird on blue tail. Gold BOAC titles forward inside thick blue cheatline which gradually widens until it covers radome. No gold trim to cheatline.
Gold speedbird on blue tail. Gold BOAC titles forward inside thick blue cheatline which gradually widens until it covers radome. No gold trim to cheatline.
1965: Golden Speedbird Cunard Titles
Golden Speedbird with BOAC Cunard titles for joint venture. Only applied to small number of aircraft and not a standard BOAC mainline scheme.
Golden Speedbird with BOAC Cunard titles for joint venture. Only applied to small number of aircraft and not a standard BOAC mainline scheme.
1970-1974: Golden Speedbird with Blue Titles (1970-1977)
Gold speedbird on blue tail. Blue thick BOAC titles above thick blue cheatline which covered radome.
Gold speedbird on blue tail. Blue thick BOAC titles above thick blue cheatline which covered radome.