Speedbird

The Speedbird is the stylised emblem of a bird in flight designed in 1932 by Theyre Lee-Elliott as the corporate logo for Imperial Airways.

[4] With the creation of BOAC in 1939 the logo was retained, continuing to appear on the noses of aircraft throughout World War II despite the military-style camouflage that had replaced the airline livery.

From 1950 BOAC gave the Speedbird greater prominence on the aircraft using it on the tail fin, either in navy blue on a white background or vice versa, and also using it widely elsewhere, such as on airport buses.

In the mid-1960s the design of the Speedbird was slightly altered, with a slimmer "body" and larger "wing", and on the tailfin coloured gold on a navy blue background.

Referred to as the Speedwing, the red flash on the lower dark blue part of the fuselage bore a slight resemblance to the original 1930s design.

In 2019, the Speedbird emblem returned to use by British Airways with the unveiling of their BOAC-liveried Boeing 747-400 to celebrate 100 years of BA and its predecessors.

The minimalist, stylish and avant-garde design representing a bird in flight it is instantly recognisable and has a timelessly modern appeal.

The Speedbird emblem.
On the nose of " Frobisher " – an Imperial Airways de Havilland Albatross in 1938.
Speedbird in the BOAC logo ca. 1965
On the nose of a BOAC Armstrong Whitworth Ensign refuelling in Accra during WW2.
The Speedbird on a BOAC liveried Leyland Atlantean .
Speedbird logo on the nose of Concorde G-BOAD at takeoff
Boeing 747-400 displaying the post-1984 Speedwing .
Boeing 747-400 displaying the post-1997 Speedmarque .
Hatton Cross tube station displaying three Speedbirds on a pillar.
Edward McKnight Kauffer 's 1917 poster for the Daily Herald