It all started when…
The RAF’s 47 Squadron got in touch for advice on how to apply colours to one of their C-130 Hercules aircraft in advance of their 100th anniversary. Having seen the work done on three Chinook helicopters at RAF Odiham and RAF Benson they were inspired to celebrate their own centenary in a way befitting of the occasion and it was a wonderful thing to be able to help them get there.
This project was completed within the Ministry of Defence and not under Dynamic Vectors. It serves only as an illustration of what some of our designers can do.
With a very committed project officer at RAF Brize Norton, a new embarkation was made - a first major project on a fixed wing aircraft. Ever excited to work with new people, some great ideas came out of conversation with Airfix graphic designer Jonathan Mock, who had formed some interesting concepts for the 47 Squadron colours on a C-130 tail. Taking those concepts further, a stylised version of the demoiselle crane's head on 47 Squadron’s badge was developed - noting that heraldry rules prevent the use of an exact representation in isolation from the badge!
Wanting to really up the impact if viewed from the front, yet keeping a degree of simplicity to make it achievable in the timescales the aircraft could be down-declared from front-line duties, a decision was made to bring the tail design downwards; adding some visual interest from above whilst blending into a subtle black-against-green stencil on the forward fuselage. Half way along this we placed a vintage 47 Squadron badge which was uncovered during research, to ‘tip the hat’ towards its Royal Flying Corps lineage from pre-1918.
A difficult project to seek approvals for, it was a huge relief to see the aircraft touch down at RAF Brize Norton in the hands of the Officer Commanding (OC) 47 Squadron and OC Standards & Evaluation. The painting work by Air Livery at Cambridge was superb and it was very well received by all. As a first multi-engined heavy aircraft project, it was a very satisfying endeavour due to the close ties formed with 47 Squadron and the people who worked to make it happen.
Photography by Andy Donovan.
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