Here’s a commemorative marker, a sticker, I think*, for a half-century of Pan Am’s flying a transatlantic service starting in 1939 – quickly disrupted by the Second World War. The service was started with Boeing 314 flying boats, as illustrated here – a type that went onto a notable number or remarkable flights and records.But…
Bas Farman
One of the often neglected aspects of aviation art I’m going to focus on are the three dimensional works, including here a bas relief sculpture by Paul Landowski, from the page of the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace shared today. Landowski may not be familiar by name, but just about everyone reading this blog…
Koala to India
Just a fun one today, an Air India first day cover style commemoration of the first Boeing 707 flight between India and Australia in 1962. The chap is Air India’s ‘character’ used in the era, and obviously he’s decided to act like a local and copy the koala! First day covers are – yet another…
What’s in the Box?
Coming up soon on the Aviation Illustration Blog… Nice. James Kightly, Vintage Aero Writer.
The Red-Blue Max
A very strange story today, around the well-known book ‘The Blue Max’ which was made into an even better-known film* of the same name. The book was written by Jack D Hunter, a fantastic name for an action-novel writer, but actually his real name as well. The cover for the first edition of the book…
February Roundup
Here’s the images for February. Quite a mix, with an ice sculpture, a travel bag, a roundabout in the three-dimensional elements, one ‘pastiche’ a theft and a fabric missing man. Well worth a look back through! James Kightly, Vintage Aero Writer.
Hawaii Heaters
Today’s post is thanks to friend and colleague Dion Makowski at the current Airshows Downunder Australian International Air Show at Avalon airport, Victoria, Australia. It’s patches, another vast topic! Unit patches are a crucial way of identifying various allegiances, from official versions, courses, units, and right down to scurrilous fabric graffiti, mainly military, though civilian…
Tuskegee Triumph
A mixed media artwork by Roy E. LaGrone, of a United States Army Air Force pilot (Lieutenant Herman ‘Ace’ Lawson) in World War Two. A well executed fine art piece, today’s post carries its social history front and centre – and rightly so as its a celebration of African-American achievement*. LaGrone was a member of…
Bristol Fashion
Today’s image is another new aviation design area, but something the entire blog could be about. Aircraft company logos. Often overlooked today, all successful aircraft companies were very brand aware a century before the term was known as it is today, and that usually included distinctive logos, logotypes and fonts. Starting in the 1900s, aircraft…
Jet Noise & Morning Milk
Today’s Poster. Having been wandering about in the civil nineteen-tens music, let’s flip to after the Second World War, the military, and quite a different noise – the raw ripping sound of a jet fighter* roaring overhead, made real in a poster. A standard response to airbase NIMBYs** is another cliche, promoted by western air…
A Year of Aviation Illustration & Art 