US livery - Blue vs White, any significance?
Jan 28, 2010, 5:22 pm
#1
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US livery - Blue vs White, any significance?
Is one newer than the other? Or are they just two variations on what looks to otherwise be the same livery? (When I started wondering about this, I was originally guessing US East vs US West, but now have had both types of planes painted white, so it can't be that).
Jan 28, 2010, 5:34 pm
#2
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The white planes are the newer livery, established along with the merger with AWA. Since AWA had hubs in Phoenix and Las Vegas, the merger meant that a lot of the new USAirways planes were going to be spending time in the hot desert sun. Given that, a mostly white plane made more sense, as it wouldn't absorb as much heat as a dark blue plane would, and word is the dark paint doesn't hold up well over time when subjected to extended periods of heat and bright sun.
Jan 28, 2010, 7:01 pm
#3
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Thanks for the info. So I guess one can infer that anything in blue is a US East plane that they've had since before the merger?
Is there an active program to convert blue planes to white, or is it just done if/when the plane would be scheduled for painting anyway?
Is there an active program to convert blue planes to white, or is it just done if/when the plane would be scheduled for painting anyway?
Jan 28, 2010, 7:04 pm
#4
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Correct on the first - the dark blue planes are the remaining old livery East planes. There was a regular painting schedule to get the entire fleet converted to the new livery but when money got tight that was dropped. Now they're only painting planes as the need arises, and only the worst looking ones then.
Jim
Jim
Jan 28, 2010, 7:31 pm
#5
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Thanks - good info here. I was curious because I just started flying US more again in the past few months. Before that, I had only flown them once or twice since 2003.
Jan 29, 2010, 1:30 am
#6
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I like the old blue design, although I've been in some cities where it was indeed very, very hot inside the plane...
I'm also a fan of the "retrojets". I've been on both the Allegheny and Piedmont aircraft (and think I've been on the HP retrojet), but still keep missing my beloved PSA jet.
I'm still waiting for a USAir retrojet in either the early 1990s blue/red/silver scheme or the 1980s orange/brown/silver scheme (obviously going to be tough to do on an Airbus 320 with a composite body frame).
I'm also a fan of the "retrojets". I've been on both the Allegheny and Piedmont aircraft (and think I've been on the HP retrojet), but still keep missing my beloved PSA jet.
I'm still waiting for a USAir retrojet in either the early 1990s blue/red/silver scheme or the 1980s orange/brown/silver scheme (obviously going to be tough to do on an Airbus 320 with a composite body frame).
Last edited by IADCAflyer; Jan 29, 2010 at 1:38 am
Jan 29, 2010, 1:44 am
#7
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So what is this one???
Jan 29, 2010, 2:42 am
#8
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It's one of the legacy paint schemes, symbolizing US heritage. The one you show is a US jet painted with an America West tail. Here's one with the Piedmont tail.
Jan 29, 2010, 8:22 am
#9
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Here is the final HP livery before the changeover...
This one is still the best, however....
This one is still the best, however....
Jan 29, 2010, 8:54 am
#10
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I tend to prefer this one. 
Which is based on the 80's and early 90's HP livery:
Which is based on the 80's and early 90's HP livery:
Jan 29, 2010, 9:30 am
#11
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*sigh*
Jan 29, 2010, 10:31 am
#12
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I've seen a white/blue livery (white top, blue belly) and a gray livery. Where are the all white and all blue liveries?
As an employee at the HP HQ before the merger, one day I got pulled into a conf room one day, and a group of us were exposed to some livery designs and got to vote. Some were horrible, and I was happy that my choice became part of the final version (they took pieces of a few and grouped it together).
I've seen a white/blue livery (white top, blue belly) and a gray livery. Where are the all white and all blue liveries?
As an employee at the HP HQ before the merger, one day I got pulled into a conf room one day, and a group of us were exposed to some livery designs and got to vote. Some were horrible, and I was happy that my choice became part of the final version (they took pieces of a few and grouped it together).
Jan 29, 2010, 10:54 am
#13
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The only all white livery is the *A livery - all white fuselage, dark blue vertical tail. The last HP livery was mostly white with the belly and tail blue/green. The HP livery before that was mostly white with blue stripe and tip of tail, but I'm not sure there were any of those left by the time of the merger (and pics of both are in this thread).
Then there are the heritage and team liveries.
Not sure what the all gray would have been.
Jim
Then there are the heritage and team liveries.
Not sure what the all gray would have been.
Jim
Jan 29, 2010, 11:06 am
#14
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I've seen tons of the gray livery on planes in PHL. Maybe it is really very dark blue planes in need of a cleaning.
I've seen tons of the gray livery on planes in PHL. Maybe it is really very dark blue planes in need of a cleaning.
Jan 29, 2010, 11:15 am
#15
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Woo hoo!
Mais Oui!
Last edited by HeHateY; Jan 29, 2010 at 11:53 am Reason: Trying to embed photos