What if TWA decided to celebrate their 75th Anniversary in GRAND style?

Sentinel Chicken · 03-17-2002, 08:18 PM

And HEEERE'S the second of the Chicken Works twinpacks! July 13, 2000, Trans World Airlines celebrated 75 years of operation that reach back into the founding days of the US domestic airline system in the 1920s that was heralded by the first practical air-rail transcontinental run inaugurated in July 1929 with Charles Lindergh himself in the left seat of a Ford Tri-Motor. Of course, in those days TWA was TAT (Transcontinental Air Transport) and became TWA (Transcontinental and Western Air) when TAT merged with Western Air Express in 1930. As TWA grew and spread its wings internationally with its glamourous Lockheed Constellations, it became Trans World Airlines in 1950.

American celebrated it's inauguration of the first jet transcontinental service by adorning one of their 757s in the Astrojet livery worn by the 707s in those days. A 737-800 is also adorned with Astrojet livery as well and recently, Avianca has celebrated their 80th Anniversary with retrojet liveries on a 757-200 and an MD-80. So it only makes sense to me that TWA should have had some retrojets and this twinpack features TWA's two previous liveries, a 757 each in the earlier twin-globe livery and one in the later twin red stripe livery.

The first jet is in the livery that was designed by Raymond Loewy that first appeared on TWA's 707s in 1959. What was then referred to as the "arrowhead" cheatline livery, the golden twin globes were added shortly after but the first appearances of the livery lacked the twin globes. However, the twin-globes were one of the most recognized corporate logos of its day. Pilots would comment their 707s looked like "they were going 600 mph on the ground!". Raymond Loewy is one of the most notable of American designers and you've probably seen most of his other works- he's responsible for the design of Coca-Cola bottles, as well as for the corporate logos for Shell, Exxon, and Greyhound. In the aviation field Loewy designed the interiors of Lockheed Constellations, created the Air Force One livery with Jacqueline Kennedy that's still used today, and also designed the United jet mainliner livery and it's later Friendship/Stars and Bars variation.

On the 757 this livery looks great, accentuating the sleekness of the jet. The 707-300s that TWA put into intercontinental service in competition with Pan American were styled as "StarStream" jets, carrying the traditions of the Constellation and Starliner. So, this one becomes the "StarStream 757 Retrojet".

The second TWA retrojet wears the twin red stripe livery which I don't believe 757s ever wore. The twin red stripe livery hearkened back to the pre-jet livery worn by TWA's Constellations and Starliners. I've chosen the twin red stripe livery with the solid titles (the first version of this livery had hollow "Trans World" titles and were found to be hard to see) but I've also added the TWA logo to the nacelles in a manner similar to what the first 767-200s wore when they entered service with TWA in 1982. This was a nostalgiac tip back to the days of the Super Constellations which had similar logo/striping on the tip tanks.

In a further reference to the days of the Constellations, I've also given this retrojet the name Star of Kansas City. TWA's Connies and Starliners carried such names, but these weren't carried over to the jet fleet when the 707s came into service. However, there was one and only one TWA jet that had a star titles and that was a single 767-200 (N610TW) which was christened Star of Geneva. I'd played around with star names on this one but settled on Star of Kansas City for the following reasons- KC was TWA's first homebase and having lived there for three years, folks in Kansas City still call TWA their hometown airline. In TWA's formative days, the scenic Downtown Kansas City Airport (MKC)was it's HQ and if you go the MKC today you can still see the old Transcontinental and Western HQ/hangar building restored beatifully as it serves as a Beechcraft/Raytheon dealership. TWA also had a heavy maintenance base at Kansas City International (MCI) and were the first tenants when it first opened in the 1950s as Mid-Contintent Airport (and that's why KCI's airport code is MCI...). For years you could see the retired jets of TWA's fleet from 707s and CV880s to 727s and 747s parked on the aprons of the maintenance base on the east side of KCI. So even though TWA is a St. Louis-based airline (or was, until the buyout by AA), it's REAL roots are in Kansas City.

Enjoy!

HerpaBryce · 03-17-2002, 08:24 PM

Another great job.

David Hingtgen · 03-17-2002, 09:45 PM

Amazing! Just a few hours ago I was wondering how a twin-stripe 752 would look--and here it is! I LOOOOOOVE twin-stripes.

smoothjazz · 03-17-2002, 10:53 PM

Simply great photos... I love the twin stripes as well...

NEADC9 · 03-18-2002, 01:53 PM

The Starstream Retro 757 would have been real nice to see.

Travelin' Man · 03-21-2002, 02:34 AM

Have to go with the Starstream on this one. Too bad. Now if only UAL would do a 757 or 777 in a Stars 'n Bars livery.

Helmsman · 03-21-2002, 09:02 AM

Doc, these planes are AWESOME. Any chance of starting paying tours to the ultra-secret Chicken Works? I can persuade my Travel Agency to do a special discount!

Bill G · 03-21-2002, 08:07 PM

Chicken

These are excellent. I like them both and that says alot knowing how little I liked being an employee of that airline. AA aka Sky Nazi's oughta fly one of these around. Yeah, that'll happen.

Bill G

AirDar · 03-24-2002, 04:56 AM

WONDERFUL stuff here Doc! I really like the logo/stripes detail on the nacelles of the twinstripe version... it gives it a nice secondary element to focus on. I notice you like to add decoration to the engines... I agree that an engine maker's logo or NOTHING is rather boring and am becoming increasingly enamoured of addtional theming in this location.

As for the "StarStream", well, it's nothing short of beautiful! The 757 probably hasn't looked better! What a sight it would be to see a whole lineup of these surrounding a terminal. Sadly, with TWA now only a tearful memory we'll never get to see one of these... Thanks for the "could have been" peek!

05-12-2002, 03:58 PM

Wow, these are some sweet planes. Good job.

General Buck Turgidson · 05-08-2003, 06:01 PM

The General's got a soft spot for retro and sports a hefty chubby for the concept of retrojets. The accompanying historical commentary makes this illustration all the more enjoyable.

Got that all you wannabes? Pay attention to the HISTORY!

nappinduke · 05-15-2003, 02:09 PM

If you REALLY want to get blown away, go to the old downtown airport's "Airline History Museum" (formerly "Save-A-Connie") and see former TWA employees restoring classic propliners in the old TWA livery.
They're working on a DC-3, and have already restored a Martin 404 and a Connie to flying condition. Yes, it IS possible (though not easy/cheap) to get a ride in them, and you can definitely tour them. Check out www.airlinehistorymuseum.com

richie154 · 05-15-2003, 08:08 PM

Mr Chicken, i really like these two TWA 757 retro birds. theres just something about the 757-200 and a retro scheme; i wish United, Delta , Continental and Northwest would follow the ways of American, Avianca and Mexicana. those 3 retro 757's are awesome! its a damn shame that TWA is no more.

03-17-2002, 08:18 PM	#1
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	What if TWA decided to celebrate their 75th Anniversary in GRAND style? And HEEERE'S the second of the Chicken Works twinpacks! July 13, 2000, Trans World Airlines celebrated 75 years of operation that reach back into the founding days of the US domestic airline system in the 1920s that was heralded by the first practical air-rail transcontinental run inaugurated in July 1929 with Charles Lindergh himself in the left seat of a Ford Tri-Motor. Of course, in those days TWA was TAT (Transcontinental Air Transport) and became TWA (Transcontinental and Western Air) when TAT merged with Western Air Express in 1930. As TWA grew and spread its wings internationally with its glamourous Lockheed Constellations, it became Trans World Airlines in 1950. American celebrated it's inauguration of the first jet transcontinental service by adorning one of their 757s in the Astrojet livery worn by the 707s in those days. A 737-800 is also adorned with Astrojet livery as well and recently, Avianca has celebrated their 80th Anniversary with retrojet liveries on a 757-200 and an MD-80. So it only makes sense to me that TWA should have had some retrojets and this twinpack features TWA's two previous liveries, a 757 each in the earlier twin-globe livery and one in the later twin red stripe livery. The first jet is in the livery that was designed by Raymond Loewy that first appeared on TWA's 707s in 1959. What was then referred to as the "arrowhead" cheatline livery, the golden twin globes were added shortly after but the first appearances of the livery lacked the twin globes. However, the twin-globes were one of the most recognized corporate logos of its day. Pilots would comment their 707s looked like "they were going 600 mph on the ground!". Raymond Loewy is one of the most notable of American designers and you've probably seen most of his other works- he's responsible for the design of Coca-Cola bottles, as well as for the corporate logos for Shell, Exxon, and Greyhound. In the aviation field Loewy designed the interiors of Lockheed Constellations, created the Air Force One livery with Jacqueline Kennedy that's still used today, and also designed the United jet mainliner livery and it's later Friendship/Stars and Bars variation. On the 757 this livery looks great, accentuating the sleekness of the jet. The 707-300s that TWA put into intercontinental service in competition with Pan American were styled as "StarStream" jets, carrying the traditions of the Constellation and Starliner. So, this one becomes the "StarStream 757 Retrojet". The second TWA retrojet wears the twin red stripe livery which I don't believe 757s ever wore. The twin red stripe livery hearkened back to the pre-jet livery worn by TWA's Constellations and Starliners. I've chosen the twin red stripe livery with the solid titles (the first version of this livery had hollow "Trans World" titles and were found to be hard to see) but I've also added the TWA logo to the nacelles in a manner similar to what the first 767-200s wore when they entered service with TWA in 1982. This was a nostalgiac tip back to the days of the Super Constellations which had similar logo/striping on the tip tanks. In a further reference to the days of the Constellations, I've also given this retrojet the name Star of Kansas City. TWA's Connies and Starliners carried such names, but these weren't carried over to the jet fleet when the 707s came into service. However, there was one and only one TWA jet that had a star titles and that was a single 767-200 (N610TW) which was christened Star of Geneva. I'd played around with star names on this one but settled on Star of Kansas City for the following reasons- KC was TWA's first homebase and having lived there for three years, folks in Kansas City still call TWA their hometown airline. In TWA's formative days, the scenic Downtown Kansas City Airport (MKC)was it's HQ and if you go the MKC today you can still see the old Transcontinental and Western HQ/hangar building restored beatifully as it serves as a Beechcraft/Raytheon dealership. TWA also had a heavy maintenance base at Kansas City International (MCI) and were the first tenants when it first opened in the 1950s as Mid-Contintent Airport (and that's why KCI's airport code is MCI...). For years you could see the retired jets of TWA's fleet from 707s and CV880s to 727s and 747s parked on the aprons of the maintenance base on the east side of KCI. So even though TWA is a St. Louis-based airline (or was, until the buyout by AA), it's REAL roots are in Kansas City. Enjoy! __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

03-17-2002, 08:24 PM	#2
HerpaBryce Master Collector Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Age: 18 Posts: 833	Another great job. __________________ See my airliner renderings here - http://community.webshots.com/user/banages See my collection here

03-17-2002, 10:53 PM	#4
smoothjazz More Korean Air in 1/200! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: SEOUL KOREA Posts: 6,379	Simply great photos... I love the twin stripes as well... __________________ BENJAMIN MY COLLECTION http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-1179.html

03-21-2002, 09:02 AM	#7
Helmsman Great Helmet Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chateau Helmsman, Sutton, south of London! Posts: 761	Great Scott Doc, these planes are AWESOME. Any chance of starting paying tours to the ultra-secret Chicken Works? I can persuade my Travel Agency to do a special discount!

03-21-2002, 08:07 PM	#8
Bill G Insane Collector Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,230	Well done Chicken (get it) Chicken These are excellent. I like them both and that says alot knowing how little I liked being an employee of that airline. AA aka Sky Nazi's oughta fly one of these around. Yeah, that'll happen. Bill G __________________ *Ozark Flies Your Way* FEES DON'T FLY AT SOUTHWEST

03-17-2002, 09:45 PM	#3
David Hingtgen Complete Wacko! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,989	Amazing! Just a few hours ago I was wondering how a twin-stripe 752 would look--and here it is! I LOOOOOOVE twin-stripes.

03-18-2002, 01:53 PM	#5
NEADC9 Insane Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Franklin, MA Posts: 981	The Starstream Retro 757 would have been real nice to see.

03-21-2002, 02:34 AM	#6
Travelin' Man Insane Collector Join Date: May 2000 Location: Aspen USA!!! Posts: 1,919	Have to go with the Starstream on this one. Too bad. Now if only UAL would do a 757 or 777 in a Stars 'n Bars livery.

03-24-2002, 04:56 AM	#9
AirDar I'm watching you... Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Land of BBQ & thin chips Posts: 1,787	WONDERFUL stuff here Doc! I really like the logo/stripes detail on the nacelles of the twinstripe version... it gives it a nice secondary element to focus on. I notice you like to add decoration to the engines... I agree that an engine maker's logo or NOTHING is rather boring and am becoming increasingly enamoured of addtional theming in this location. As for the "StarStream", well, it's nothing short of beautiful! The 757 probably hasn't looked better! What a sight it would be to see a whole lineup of these surrounding a terminal. Sadly, with TWA now only a tearful memory we'll never get to see one of these... Thanks for the "could have been" peek! __________________ Dar~ Yours is not to question why, Yours is but to BUY or DIE!

05-12-2002, 03:58 PM	#10
Romania is #1 Guest Posts: n/a	Wow, these are some sweet planes. Good job.

05-08-2003, 06:01 PM	#11
General Buck Turgidson Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: At a secret Air Force bunker in the US Midwest Posts: 312	The General's going to push the crap off of this forum and revisit the GOOD stuff! The General's got a soft spot for retro and sports a hefty chubby for the concept of retrojets. The accompanying historical commentary makes this illustration all the more enjoyable. Got that all you wannabes? Pay attention to the HISTORY! __________________ "I think there are many times when it would be most efficient to use nuclear weapons. However, the public opinion in this country and throughout the world throw up their hands in horror when you mention nuclear weapons, just because of the propaganda that's been fed to them."

05-15-2003, 02:09 PM	#12
nappinduke Remember Duane Allman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock n' Roll Heaven Age: 53 Posts: 145	TWA---KC Downtown Airport If you REALLY want to get blown away, go to the old downtown airport's "Airline History Museum" (formerly "Save-A-Connie") and see former TWA employees restoring classic propliners in the old TWA livery. They're working on a DC-3, and have already restored a Martin 404 and a Connie to flying condition. Yes, it IS possible (though not easy/cheap) to get a ride in them, and you can definitely tour them. Check out www.airlinehistorymuseum.com __________________ ---DUKE Currently Listening To: The Allman Brothers Band "It's Not My Cross To Bear" The Allman Brothers Band 1969

05-15-2003, 08:08 PM	#13
richie154 Retired Hookah Master Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley of Heart's Delight Age: 24 Posts: 3,718	Mr Chicken, i really like these two TWA 757 retro birds. theres just something about the 757-200 and a retro scheme; i wish United, Delta , Continental and Northwest would follow the ways of American, Avianca and Mexicana. those 3 retro 757's are awesome! its a damn shame that TWA is no more. __________________ The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villian with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart. Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! Private Pilot: 10/20/2005 Private Multi Engine: 05/09/2008 The more things change, the more Mesa still sucks.

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