ANA Mohican jet returns to skies after 20 years

Wednesday 28th October, 05:36 AM JST

TOKYO —

The skies of Japan will turn nostalgic on Dec 1 when ANA starts operating a 767 in its former Mohican livery on flights between Tokyo and the cities of Miyazaki and Kagoshima in Kyushu.

The Mohican design decorated ANA’s fleet from May 1969 until March 1989, when it was replaced by the current livery. In addition to the eye-catching blue design, the tail-fins of the aircraft at the time also sported the distinctive Leonardo da Vinci helicopter motif, which to this day is used as ANA’s corporate symbol.

“The idea came from one of our employees, who looked back on the heyday of Japanese economic growth, which was reflected by the tremendous growth in aviation,” said Shinya Katanozaka, ANA’s executive vice president marketing and sales. “In particular, Miyazaki and Kagoshima were the mecca of Japanese honeymooners back then. This is the first time that a Japanese airline has brought back one of its old liveries, and we hope that it will strike as nostalgic a chord with our customers as it has with our employees.”

The Mohican jet will fly until the end of 2013.

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Latest 15 of 16 Total Comments Show All

The758 at 10:40 AM JST - 28th October

Are they going to be flying the plane in the photo? Doesn't Japan have noise restrictions?

This is the first time that a Japanese airline has brought back one of its old liveries

Kind of an in-your-face to JAL, isn't it? :)
USNinJapan2 at 11:01 AM JST - 28th October

Noise restrictions? I'm sure the aircraft itself isn't from back then, if that's what you're insinuating...
terebiko at 11:45 AM JST - 28th October

Well I guess we all know where the airplane otakus will be on Dec. 1. See train otakus all the time in Hiroshima taking pics of the streetcars. Or are they streetcar otakus. Hmmm. I like the retro look of the planes. They should paint one up in Pan Am or TWA colors for fun. Now that brings back memories...
plasticmonkey at 12:16 PM JST - 28th October

The old airline designs were much cooler than nowadays. Pan Am, BOAC, Braniff, etc. Only a handful of good designs left, notably Air France and Singapore. The modern ANA is just plain boring.
mrsynik at 01:45 PM JST - 28th October

I like when airlines do this. Air Canada did this a few years ago and painted one of their A319's in their old Trans Canada Air-Lines livery, and its still wearing it.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/3/9/1588937.jpg
societymike at 02:11 PM JST - 28th October

yes, a retro Pan-Am livery would be sweet.
M51T at 02:27 PM JST - 28th October

Aircraft otakus out there, just wondering, why is it described as 'Mohican'?
dbung10 at 03:25 PM JST - 28th October

why is it described as a mohican? are you serious??

It looks pretty cool. More airlines should do stuff like this. why has noone made a gold (painted) plane yet? that would be awesome!
JeffLee at 03:53 PM JST - 28th October

who looked back on the heyday of Japanese economic growth, which was reflected by the tremendous growth in aviation

So this is a sad story, really.
PepinGalarga at 09:59 PM JST - 28th October

"The Mohican jet will fly until the end of 2013"

wow, that's like saying McCain could also have been president until January 1, 2013...

These planes are quite old, and in these days where a single missing 10 cent screw can bring a plane down, i would prefer to take the bullet train...
usaexpat at 12:45 AM JST - 29th October

Awsome, I love the classic paint job.
JohnBecker at 01:11 AM JST - 29th October

For those who missed it, ANA will be operating a modern Boeing 767 in the old livery. They won't be digging up 707's and DC-6's.
seeker1 at 10:46 PM JST - 1st November

Mohican is the Japanese way of saying a mohawk, as in the hair style. As you can see in the photo, it has a light blue mohawk or mohican pattern.
The758 at 12:27 PM JST - 2nd November

The plane in the photo looks like a 737 ... kinda small for a 767.
rajakumar at 09:09 AM JST - 12th November

Japan's ANA goes back to Mohican ways,after 20 years.

Last of the Mohicans,making a comeback.

Way to go.