COOL STUFF
Check Out the R2-D2-Painted Boeing 787 Airplane from All Nippon
by Alex Billington
April 16, 2015
Source: Boing Boing
Bleep! Bloop! Bleep! Translation: come fly to Japan on my airplane! Holy crap this is… awesome? Yea, I'm going to say it is. One of the big reveals this week at Star Wars Celebration, along with the new trailer for The Force Awakens, is a brand new R2-D2-painted Boeing 787 commercial airplane. We've seen Smaug the Airplane, now it's R2's turn. The new aircraft will be part of All Nippon Airways fleet, based out of Japan, and it will be launching in fall 2015 (a bit closer to the release of The Force Awakens). The plane is being shown off in videos at their booth, but we found nice clean shots of it in flight. I'll take a ticket, please.
A few photos can be seen below of the R2-D2-themed Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner presented by ANA as part of "a five-year Star Wars Project" (via WSJ). Hmm, more planes every year maybe? Images via Boing Boing:
And here's the official promo video for the plane from ANA, posted on their official website - check it out:
"Taking off Fall 2015, R2-D2 Jet on its newest aircraft 787-9 Dreamliner will spread its wings worldwide. Find whole new exciting aircraft, featuring the popular Star Wars character R2-D2." As much as it's goofy and obvious promotion, I can't help but say it's kind of perfect and follows nicely after Smaug the Airplane was introduced by Air New Zealand. As for why they chose R2-D2? Aside from being a "popular character who connects the Star Wars episodes", their website says: "In the long adventurous journey, R2-D2 reached a unique personality. Highly loyal and whenever he faces challenge he comes up with an original idea to succeed the mission." Indeed. But I wonder: where is C-3PO's plane? Or better yet, where's Vader's plane?
12 Comments
1
FIRST! 😀
Tuomas Lassila on Apr 17, 2015
2
That is cool. I want one. Parking space is a bit limited outside my house though.
chrisills on Apr 17, 2015
3
In the air, parked outside the terminal or when you walk down the ramp to get on, you'll never be able to see it...
Bill on Apr 17, 2015
4
Bill, I suspect you have never met a plane spotter. Once this 787 in R2-D2 livery is shown publicly there will be hundreds of pictures posted on line. Although it may be difficult to see this aircraft when it is connected to the ramp, it still can be seen during take-off and landings, and during arrivals to and departures from the ramp.
dandassow on Apr 19, 2015
5
Looks to me like all the signature markings are on the top...
Bill on Apr 19, 2015
6
I fully agree having the signature markings on top presents problems to seeing them. This may be great for promotional pictures, but will drastically limit what people can see live as you point out in your original post. From ANA and Lucas Film's perspective the promotion during the Star Wars Celebration is more important. I simply pointed out that obsessed fans will find a way to view the aircraft.
dandassow on Apr 19, 2015
7
Japan knows how to market.
DAVIDPD on Apr 17, 2015
8
Now, if only they could do this back in '77…….
Mark Brackney on Apr 18, 2015
9
ANA had one of 747-400Ds painted like a blue whale. Boeing could have painted one of it's 747s to look like R2-D2 back in 1977. However, even though Star Wars was very popular with the public in general and with Boeing employees, it had not reached the cultural icon status it enjoys today.
dandassow on Apr 19, 2015
10
Neat. Thank you! Wait-a-minute. SMAUG, though.......
Mark Brackney on Apr 19, 2015
11
Here is the ANA 747-400D painted like a blue whale.
dandassow on Apr 20, 2015
12
Oh, okay. EH. Whatever…….
Mark Brackney on Apr 20, 2015
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