Aviation News

2011-04-06

PHOTOS: United Airlines Reveals Retro “Friend Ship” Livery

Today, United Airlines revealed their retro “Friend Ship” livery on an Airbus A320 at Chicaco’s O’Hare International Airport.

United Airlines Retro Airbus A320 Friend Ship N475UA

United Airlines Retro Airbus A320 "Friend Ship" (N475UA). (Photo courtesy of United Airlines)

Hundreds of United employees showed up to celebrate not only the new retro livery, but also United’s 85th birthday.

United can trace its roots back to 1926 when they carried mail under the “Varney Air Service” name. Then the airline was purchased by William Boeing and merged with his other ventures as “United Aircraft and Transport Corporation.” In 1928, several airlines were combined as “United Air Lines.” Since then, the airline has successfully grown and had many different liveries.

Late last year, United employees were able to vote on which retro livery they wanted from five choices and the “Friend Ship” livery won.

The retro livery will be flown throughout United’s North American route system.

United Airlines Retro Airbus A320 Friend Ship N475UA

United Airlines Retro Airbus A320 "Friend Ship" (N475UA). (Photo courtesy of United Airlines)

This story was a joint venture between AirlineReporter.com and NYCAviation.com.

 
 


About the Author

David Parker Brown





 
 

 
Northern Pacific Boeing 757 with black and white livery on fuselage and tail, aurora borealis inspired splash of color on winglets, and similarly colored N on the tail.

Northern Pacific Airways Unveils First Aircraft

New airline Northern Pacific Airways unveiled their first aircraft on Tuesday evening in an event held at San Bernardino International Airport.
by Rufus Powell
0

 
 

Onboard Breeze Airways First Flight From Louisville

Back in June, 2018, the aviation community first heard of a possible new airline, to be partly founded by David Neeleman. The founder of JetBlue Airways, Azul Brazilian Airlines, WestJet, and ...
by Tom Rainey
0

 

 

A Step Towards Normalcy At The Jones Beach Airshow

A year after being cancelled at the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Airshow at Jones Beach returns for 2021.
by Scott Snorteland
0

 
 

SWISS Shows Off Its Revamped JFK Lounge

NYCAviation toured the fully-remodeled SWISS International lounge at JFK's Terminal 4
by Eric Dunetz
1

 
 

The Future of Business Aviation in Focus at NBAA BACE

The business aviation community will be gathering in Las Vegas this week for the annual NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (BACE).
by Gabe Andino
1

 




  • Ahh…The friendly skies

  • I love this livery.

  • Valuable info. Hope to work out more wonderful posts from now on.

  • Anonymous

    they did a lousy job replicating the great livery from 1972.  The blue is too dark, the Bookman typeface on the tail is neither italic nor boldface.  The correct style can be seen in this commercial:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDHBbUhh9OM