Face of Siberian tiger features on nose of Jumbo Jet

By The Siberian Times reporter

25 June 2015

 

Airline unveils colourful new livery to help raise awareness of big cat's uncertain future.

Russian carrier Transaero has unveiled a special new livery featuring the face of the big cat on one of its long-haul Boeing 747-400 planes. Picture: Transaero

The Siberian tiger has taken pride of place on the nose of a Jumbo Jet as part of a stunning design to help raise awareness of the animal’s plight. Russian carrier Transaero has unveiled a special new livery featuring the face of the big cat on one of its long-haul Boeing 747-400 planes.

The aircraft, registration EI-XLN, has been painted to promote the conservation work of the Amur Tiger Centre, which has branches in Moscow and Vladivostok and helps to protect the endangered species.

Transaero says that the 447-seat plane, which will take passengers in the next few days, will also have sections of the interior cabin designed in a tiger theme with orange colouring. Unveiling the jet at Moscow Vnukovo, Olga Pleshakova, the airline’s chief executive said it is hoped that the design will help awareness of the Amur tiger worldwide.

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The aircraft, registration EI-XLN, has been painted to promote the conservation work of the Amur Tiger Centre, which has branches in Moscow and Vladivostok and helps to protect the endangered species. Pictures: Transaero

She said: 'Careful conservation of wildlife is a task to which no-one should remain indifferent.'
Earlier Ms Pleshakova had posted pictures of the aircraft on her Instagram account showing the stages of the work.

She wrote: 'The process of airbrushing, the result of which we have all seen on the airfield, lasted for five days. The process involved experts who have been in the artistic painting of airplanes and cars for about 30 years, but none of them had done such a large paint job before.

'The artists used a special radio transparent paint, because the locator is in the bow. In addition, the paint is aerodynamic so it is with full confidence that we can call our 'Tiger flight' a unique aircraft.'
More commonly known as the Siberian tiger, the Amur tiger is listed as an endangered species. Five years ago Russia launched a national strategy to protect the animal, which is the largest of the five tiger species.

'The process involved experts who have been in the artistic painting of airplanes and cars for about 30 years, but none of them had done such a large paint job before.' Picture: Olga Pleshakova

The number of them living in the Russian Far East is on the rise, the first large-scale census in 10 years discovered earlier this year. Carried out by animal charity WWF, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Amur Tiger organisation, the research found about 540 of the big cats in the region.

Transaero say that they aim to put the Boeing 747 on its most popular routes both in Russia and abroad to maximise exposure about the plight of the tiger.

There are plans for passengers on board to also be able to watch documentaries about the animal during their flight.

 

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