This Flight Makes the Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs
Joe Cortez October 20, 2015
ANA’s Star Wars-themed Dreamliner celebrates first passenger-bearing flight one day before the new movie trailer premieres.
After what seems to be a long, long time from an airport far away, the Star Wars themed Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operated by All Nippon Airways will soon be available to passengers around the world. Sunday, October 18 marked the ceremonial first passenger-bearing flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), one day before the first official trailer debuted for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
ANA announced the R2-D2 themed aircraft earlier this year, marking the first partnership between the Disney-owned property and the Japanese airline. By August, the airline announced they would add two more Star Wars livery aircraft to their fleet, both depicting the newest droid to join the franchise: BB-8.
The Star Wars experience is not limited to the external livery of the Dreamliner. Flyers aboard one of the three customized aircraft will be treated to in-flight décor themed around the films, from headrests to cocktail napkins and cups.
The first flight of the R2-D2 Dreamliner was celebrated by flyers from around the world, many of whom dressed up for the occasion. Photos provided by the airline show one flyer, dressed as Chewbacca, stowing his luggage in an overhead bin prior to take off. Others boarded the aircraft in full Stormtrooper armor – although some opted for just the helmet.
The R2-D2 Dreamliner is set to return to HND, where it will be showcased on ANA routes across Japan. Global News reports once the local tour is complete, the aircraft will regularly fly between HND and YVR.
[Photos: ANA Facebook]
What an incredibly ugly paint job and disgusting utensils! I'd be reluctant to drink and eat out of something that looks more suitable to dispose of medical waste. Couldn't they have hired someone with drawing experience and picked some more tasteful subject from Star Wars? Fortunately that plane will never come back. 12 parsecs is about 50 light years .. it should take a 787 about 65 million years to travel that distance ...
Parsec is a unit of length, not time.
Nice for kids. Silly for everyone else. How about more space between and in front and back and less cute stuff?