The special non-standard liveries flown by a regular airline are usually the most colorful and memorable, providing a visual feast to airport visitors. Some of the most memorable are from “the new airline with a new idea,” an airline that shone brightly — albeit briefly — during a turbulent time in commercial aviation. The airline was Western Pacific, and the new idea, rock-bottom fares.
 
Despite being in operation for barely 3 years (April 1995 – February 1998), the Colorado-based Western Pacific was probably the most colorful airline of its time. The company adopted cost-conscious policies to maintain low fares. Notably, it flew only one aircraft type — the Boeing 737-300 — to standardize training of pilots, in-flight, maintenance, and ground support, and it did not serve meals in-flight.
 

But the airline’s most remarkable legacy was “flying billboards,” a term coined from their highly visible “Air Logo” program that generated revenue through corporate sponsorship. The Western Pacific Logojets, painted with colorful sponsor messages instead of the standard airline colors, were a common sight in the nation’s major airports then.

Consider that a Boeing 737-300 is109 ft. in length and 12 ft. in diameter — providing over 4,000 sq. ft. of surface available for promotional messages — and the vertical stabilizer stands 36 ft. above the ground. Thus a Western Pacific Flying billboard traveled 575 m.p.h., taxied through many of the country’s busiest airports, and sat in all its colorful glory at each gate for an average of 45 minutes. Additionally, 2 flood lights were aimed at its tail for maximum visibility at night. What a great advertising opportunity, compared to a conventional billboard that stayed in one place all the time!

Some of these Western Pacific Logojets, now a part of aviation history, have been preserved as models in our Flight Miniatures fleet:

Colorado Springs: For the City of Colorado Springs, a travel/tourism flying billboard that stopped at major airports around the country was a good way to attract visitors. Their Logojet carried an illustration of the area, depicting the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak on both sides of the fuselage.
 

Security Service Federal Credit Union and Thrifty Car Rental were among other Western Pacific Logojet corporate sponsors.
 

In addition to these Logojets, we have the standard Western Pacific livery as well as the special split Red/Blue livery, with the fuselage painted a red on one side and blue on the other.
 

With the airline dissolved through bankruptcy, its fleet of Boeing 737-300s was dispersed and repainted for other airlines. The Logojets don’t fly anymore, but you can start your collection today. What a wonderful way to remember a unique idea from a truly unique airline!

Facts & Fun

• PLANE SPOTTER:
  Your Guide to Passenger Airliners
 
• PLANE SPOTTER:
  Your Guide to U.S. Military Aircraft
 

“What kind of plane is it?” If that sounds familiar, you will be delighted with these new products Flight Miniatures is offering — PLANE SPOTTER Guides, guaranteed to entertain all ages, seasoned traveler, aviation enthusiast and casual browser alike. The Plane Spotter is an aircraft identification guide that is not only colorful and attractive, it is chockfull of interesting information sure to impart lots of educational fun. It makes a handy reference companion at the airport or airshow, or even when browsing our website. Of sturdy laminated construction, the pocketsize 12–panel foldout measures 4” x 9” folded and 24” x 9” flat.

Your Guide to PASSENGER AIRLINERS features color photos of Flight Miniatures models. Focusing on passenger jets from Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas, simple color graphics point out the distinguishing characteristics of various jetliners and provide identification cues to help you recognize your quarry. Clever and functional charts and illustrations describe parts of the aircraft and compare features, configurations and relative sizes. A mini-glossary is also included to help you decipher aircraft terminology.

Your Guide to U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT features major aircraft used in the various branches of the U.S. armed services, including fighters, bombers, transports, tankers, reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, and even trainers. A photo is included for each, accompanied by relevant information, such as what the aircraft is used for and in which branch of the military, manufacturer, and manufacturer specifications for speed, endurance and flight ceiling. Distinguishing characteristics of the aircraft are noted, while some also have a brief description of additional interesting information pertaining to the aircraft’s history and capability. The chart showing the relative sizes of the airplanes is quite an eye-opener; the mini-glossary explains some military aviation terminology; and the flight operations Photo Gallery displays some amazing photos. Even if you’re not a military buff, this guide is worth a look and more.

Both guides are a perfect complement to your model collection. And they make great gifts for a budding aviation enthusiast!

Around the Corner

 
The Flight Miniatures Historical Livery Series will have new models added to the roster about every three months, of classic aircraft painted in their original delivery/rollout colors. The next release in May 2003 will be two models of the Boeing 747-100/200 and one of the 747SP, both aircraft types in the larger 1:200 scale.

747-100 Aircraft Type
Scale: 1:200  •  Length: 13.75 inches  •  Wingspa:n 11.75 inches

 
The first 747-100 model in 1:200 scale will be in Boeing Demo Colors for the "Boeing Milestone Series." With this model we memorialize the first 747 produced by Boeing in 1969 that introduce a new concept — the high-capacity, wide-body jumbo jet — which has changed the commercial aviation industry worldwide. Just as the size and distinctive shape of the 747 Series are familiar to most of us today, the aircraft is as easily recognizable as an icon in the skies as well as in the annals of aviation history.

The other 747-100 is of the Northwest Orient Airlines aircraft N601US, representing the livery used from 1970 to 1985. During this period the airline operated ten 747-100s in its fleet. N601US was the 27th 747-100 built and the first delivered to Northwest Orient, on April 30, 1970.

747SP Aircraft Type
Scale: 1:200  •  Length: 11 inches  •  Wingspan: 11.75 inches

 
The new 747SP model is in the American Airlines original delivery colors. The 747SP (Special Performance) is probably the most instantly recognizable variant of the basic 747 design. While the 747SP shares 90% commonality of the components with the 747-100/200, its significantly shorter fuselage gives it a somewhat stumpy appearance. This aircraft was built specifically for extreme range, hence the name Special Performance. With reduced length and weight, the 747-SP was able to travel higher, farther and faster than the 747-100/200.

We hope you enjoy these new Flight Miniatures models, whether as additions to your personal collection or as gifts to other aviation enthusiasts in your life. So please revisit our website often for all of our exciting new announcements

Greetings From Guatemala…
 

Javier Torralba worked in the airport cargo and passenger areas for 12 years, first at KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines (he visited Schiphol Airport in Holland several times) and then at GRUPO TACA. During that time, which for him remained an unforgettable experience, he also began collecting aircraft models.

Though Javier has loved commercial aviation since he was 4 years old and has been collecting airplanes models for 15 years, he got into it seriously only 4 or 5 years ago, when he stopped working at the airport. He contends that this may be a nostalgic reaction to missing the "feel" of working at the airport. (Now he has his own business in aluminum products.)

Collection On Exhibit
 

This is a thank you letter for the help that you and your company have given me way over ten years, even when your company was back east (Flight Miniatures operated in Michigan before moving to Arizona — Ed.). I have used your models to put together exhibits on the history of commercial aviation. I have done about 50 different exhibits over the years, at airports, libraries, aviation events (air shows and conventions and meeting), schools, community centers and historical places.

My collection is based on the different airlines, pilot and hat insignias, and complemented by airline aircraft models; over 90 percent are from your company models. The scales of the models have helped greatly. I show the type of aircraft that the airlines have flown, their different liveries over the years and, when possible, their changes of equipment over the lifetime of the airlines. When I traveled around the world and spoke to the airlines to help me do the exhibits, most of them — I guess about 85 percent — have either handed me or mailed your models for the exhibits. I have seen many of your models on display at some airports. I am one of the few who take the pride in exhibiting his or her collection.

I have enjoyed teaching and showing history that sometimes is overlooked. In the next couple of months, I will have another exhibit ready to go, for an air museum. Most of my exhibits are intended to last a few months, but are held over by popular demand. There have been numerous articles done on my exhibits in the news media, including TV coverage, and they have shown the models from your company.

I am glad you are in Arizona, because when I need to order a model for an exhibit, you get it to me quickly. I would appreciate your company doing some more of the older props and maybe a few different Russian aircraft. These could help with my exhibits as a lot of older people at my exhibits ask me about the old props.

Thanking you again,

Frank Woldorf
Tempe, Arizona

Frank Woldorf’s Passion is Flight Memorabilia
 

Frank began his collection when he was 14 years old, with traveling-related memorabilia. He then started taking photographs of airplanes and moved to models. He now corresponds with airlines and governments around the world to expand his collection. Frank is also a member of several aviation and airline historical societies.

Frank became a travel agent when he moved to Florida. "Most travel agents dream of owning an agency, I dream of owning a museum." Now retired, his dream is to find a permanent museum to house his extensive collection.
 

Value Added Packaging
 

As many of our collectors have noticed, we at Flight Miniatures have made efforts to improve the accuracy and detail of our models over the past few years, and we will continue to do so with every new model we produce. However, two things came to our attention: 1) Something was lacking in the product packaging, and 2) We could serve our collectors better by including in the packaging some information about the aircraft and/or the airline that each model represented.

The box for the new arrival
Alitalia Boeing 777-200,
in the new packaging format.