With the reveal of imagery showing a new paint job for the aircraft used by the Prime Minister, many have expressed concern that the flag has been painted on backwards.
The job of this specific Voyager aircraft, say the MoD, is to provide a secure, cost- effective and suitably profiled transport for Government Ministers and the Royal Family.
As if this weren’t already an ridiculous national embarrassment, the flag’s upside down. https://t.co/icUCEGMiYn
— Sharon O'Dea (@sharonodea) June 24, 2020
So, for context, a Union Flag is said to be ‘distressed’ or ‘backwards’ if the broader (wider) diagonal white stripe is not at the top on the side of the flag nearest the flagpole. You can read more about that here.
To many, it appears that the Union Flag painted on the tail is the wrong way around, following this convention.
However, the Royal Air Force said in a statement:
“The design is correct in all respects and carefully follows the correct protocol for displaying the Union Flag on an aircraft. The convention is for the flag design to appear as though it is flying from a flag placed on the nose of the aircraft, as it travels through the air. When viewing the starboard side (right hand side), this can give the mistaken impression that the design is backwards, or upside down, when in fact the observer is simply viewing the reverse side of the flag.Â
A keen eye will notice that this convention has been consistently applied on all flags represented on the aircraft, including on the Union Flags on the two forward-most aircraft doors. This protocol is not unique to the UK, a simple on-line search for images of the United States’ Air Force One starboard side will show that an identical convention has been followed.”
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is an aviation museum in the United States and they go into detail on this protocol. Read more in their article ‘Here’s Why The US Flag Sometimes Appears Backwards‘.
So, in summary, the flag isn’t upside down and painting them this way is the correct procedure.
Looks great, not sure about the gold though, a little too ‘ rude boi ‘
Theres always some idiot around trying to be smart but this idiot has just proved that that title does belong to her
If you’re on twitter do join me in saying hi. UKDJ have already trailed the way.
Dont do Twatter Dan
Don’t blame you. I have it, but rarely use it. It can be useful to deliver home truths to people like her where’s otherwise they are free to spout forth garbage.
The idiot is usually a newspaper editor and/ or a BBC producer
Straight leasing opportunity?
good thinking. actually, I was wondering whether those 4 or 5 voyagers on long term lease were sat idle? would be a good opportunity to bring them back and convert them to full MRTT since I can’t imagine there’s much demand with all the other jets sat around
whole fleet of 14 is very much in demand. used for Falklands, Akrotiri, Canada, Far East air bridge’s, and that’s just the 5 that can be leased out, the other 9 are used daily for all UK Armed Forces.
I thought they were with Thomson (or similar.) Are they all back in RAF use now via airtanker? I know Thomson went bust last year… they aren’t all converted to tankers though are they…that’s what I really meant
Jet2 had at least one.
Thomson is part of Tui and defo not bust…….yet
Not sure to be honest, think they are all tanker capable, I’m sure someone will correct me.
no they weren’t, the airframes which were due to go straight to civilian use were never converted or at least had the equipment removed. I think 9 are hose/drogue equipped and 5 aren’t or similar…as you say we’ll get corrected.
They all have the plumbing and wiring but not all have the hardware. Might be a good time though to fit the back-up fleet with tail boom refuelling .
Will the repainted Voyager still be used for all the other jobs she’s capable of, or will she sit in an hangar when not in use to protect the paint job?
Hi mate. As far as I’m aware, she will be used daily alongside the other Voyagers when not being used for VIP transportation.
That was my belief too but you just know there’ll be some looking for more reasons to attack the decision.
Not so sure if that is true or not, as there are a lot of comments from politicians (including Boris pre PM time) that state that it is impossible to book as its always being used.
I suspect its pretty much daily being used for a VIP transport.
Who is Sharon O Dea?
Does not matter. Found her, and suitable repose sent via Twitter.
“national embarrassment”
If you’re reading this dear, you really are a joke.
If you weren’t aware, you can just click the image of the Tweet in the article to go straight through to Twitter, rather than having to search her up.
Sharon, O’dear… is all I can say.
I wasn’t aware of that mate. To be fair, I first saw this on the work PC, which is shite and doesn’t always show certain images. I’m on mobile now and can see her clearly.
Thanks Lusty for that tip.
Just tried it. I’ve been blocked by her! Oh dear, dear, did I offend you telling you that the only embarrassment is you, being embarrassed about a plane with your countries flag on it!?
If you stick your neck out on SM, expect some flack back, especially when the nation is called into question. Herodotus reminded me of that.
No loss.
Oh, you poor soul! Sadly it’s the way of the world: say something that people don’t particularly like and you’ll be blocked or downvoted. Particularly petty when someone tries to point out the truth. It always infuriates me when a keyboard warrior thinks they know better than professional designers, aircrews and maintenance teams… you know, the people that do this for a living and would pick up such mistakes? Incidentally, as noted, flag conventions are correctly followed on all aircraft. The British Flag (I’m saying that deliberately as to not cause a debate!) has been used on multiple UK aircraft… Read more »
I’m intrigued. Which one?
I meant to say that none of the flags on those airframes were ‘backwards’. I’m not quite sure how I managed to mess that up! However, to verify, I’ve been looking back through some of my photos. Some of the Chinooks, Lynx and Merlin HC3’s used a smallish flag on their airframes, comparable to the flags on the door of the Voyager. However, these did not follow the convention, with the flags painted on the starboard side of the aircraft assuming the flagpole was at the tail, not the nose. In fairness, some of these applications were done in times… Read more »
It was late.
Fascinating reading Lusty. Thank you.
She come up with the usual lefty trash response when challenged on a subject she knew fuck all about, changed the subject and moaned abiut the cost! The cost which is short term outlay to save long term leasing of other airframes. She is just the typical Muppet who only ever reads a headline. Still it was amusing to see her squirm mate.
Almost a million paid for a rather basic design, i really need to get into governmental contracts.
Would have thought some of the money went on the paint, the labour, safety issues, etc; not just the design??
Maybe 10k on paint and that is stretching things i suspect.
Doubt its gloss from B&Q
Probably not. It’s not your bathroom wall!
Its not special military paint, it is just effectively a commercial airliner reconfigured and i assume commercial airliner paint. Probably better comparison is car paint, as that has to stand up to the elements, admittedly at lower speeds but equally it an airliner does’t have people standing as close and so doesn’t need to be as cosmetically nice. If you buy paint as a consumer, your paying retail prices which are massively inflated, i assume the MOD went straight to the factory. Cost from factory of car paint if probably a tenner, maybe a grand or 2 for something that… Read more »
I worked for company and we made some aircraft parts. A gallon of CAA/FAA certified paint thinners was 45 quid, that gives you an indication of the cost differences when you get into aviation. Aircraft paint has to be applied to rigorous standards its actually ridiculously thin, you don’t want to unnecessarily add extra weight to your airframe so the process is very controlled.
the whole explanation reminds me of being a kid of primary age and having a little folding book with the three flags in it and then the way you built the Union Flag up by folding them over in the correct sequence – I wonder how many people actually understand that as the St Patrick’s cross is not commonly seen unlike the cross of St George or Scottish saltire?
Where’s geoff? Our flag aficionado.
Haha Daniele. Good Morning. It is simple really-the broad white diagonal in the first quarter(top) must always be at the hoist(closest to the pole)So imagine the plane is a ship and the flag flys with the wind as the plane moves forward!! Good Morning Julian. Ironically, the St Patricks Cross is seldom seen in NI, more common in the South where,inter alia, it forms the main body of the flag of the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. The origin of the St Patricks Cross may have been from its association with the Fitzgeralds. Some Nationalists in the South describe… Read more »
Wish we could edit-I said Irony twice 🙂
Morning geoff, from a sunny Surrey! Sweltering here. Might be thunderstorms later.
I have learned something, thank you.
Hi Daniele. Sweltering with thunderstorms later-sounds like a Natal February summers day!! Here today clear skies 25 degrees but a lot colder in the shade and 11 degrees tonight!! Keep well and best to your family.
The Union Jack is the Union Jack; so I don’t see the problem?
Would it be more gainfully employed showing the flag, escorting old Russian bombers around the UK rather than carting young Boris about?
Whilst i think it is an excessive cost and politicians should just fly economy like the people they pretend to represent, i can’t help thinking it does look good and most major nations have a national plane so maybe it is something we should have.
Tacky AF.
Also if we wanted a dedicated VIP plane, that what we should have got, this is a ridiculously expensive way to go about it.
We should think about a couple of A319 NEO to replace the 146. It’s better to get something for your money rather than paying people to sit around. Should get a good deal at the moment.
No, you’re wrong. Get over it.
Well that was sophisticated
It was intended to be
I like it. Smart but not garish. Conveys identity.
Gotta love how the social media’s self proclaimed experts thought they knew better than the professionals that painted the aircraft. haha
Sadly, Sharon O’Dear isn’t alone in her thinking. One has to just look at the comments on Richard’s original post to see how many people are unaware of conventions. Anyone for an afternoon of correcting? Or shall we let them rage in their own juices?
The “fabby” new paint job does put a bit of a crimp in the plans to use it in the AAR role. I have no issues with HMG having the plane infact I think it was a nonsense before when they did not have one but surely it should have come from the four aircraft reserve rather than the 9 operational units. I also thought the previous gray paint job with RAF on it was superior and made government ministers and royalty look more professional. This smacks of Donald Trump and Bojo. When the Queen is landing at your airport… Read more »
Oh, do grow up. Macron has a big tricolour on his plane.
More reason not to then, Angela has a grey finish also
Love that Trevor, telling someone to “grow up” then using the logic of ‘well another guy has a flag on his’. Brilliant.
Well, believe this, it is brilliant.
l get fed up of every moaning minnie carping about this sort of stuff, too many happy to cross the road to complain instead of dealing with it.
If people do want to cross the road to moan then moan about somethimg worthwhile, like the road itself and about the state of all the pot holes in it.
Well the “moainie minnie” showed his workings on why he felt the way he did, it was hardly “naw, I dinnae like it so its sh1te…”. So it seem what you object to is people having a different view on things to yourself.
By all means, throw out smoke and try and deflect with your potholes and roads gibberish but it doesn’t take away from the point that the guy had a logical reason for his take on it, your’s….. not so much.
I am entied to have an objection and I made it, and so are you.
It is a perfectly reasonable and practical policy and I am quite happy to criticise the carping that has been said.
And I am happy to use a simple analogy to show some practical alternatives.
Ah, so YOU are entitled…. Why use the “grow up” though, its either deliberately adversarial or just plain ‘spitting the dummy’ because someone said something YOU didn’t like. Neither is a particularly good quality.
Some people tweet some reactionary shite don’t they! National embarrassment? Realy? There’s plenty of national embarrassments going on at the moment, such as the shadow cabinet, Police deciding that they no longer want to Police the streets, middle class apologists terrified of challenging the current situation on the streets, UK Companies and organisations grovelling to a baying crazy mob in their efforts to declare themselves non racists, the politicking going on in the Premier League (no poppies allowed however) etc…..However this isn’t, this is a rather good, simple idea to promote UK, and if it saves money in the long… Read more »
Have you seen what went on in Brixton?
Hard to say, bearing in mind the way the BBC produce the news
Yes mate, just the start of what I reckon will be coming! The more everyone panders to the mob, the mob gets braver and more intolerant! Scum bags basically!
Looks awesome – very impressive
To be fair at least she took the time to notice – even if proven incorrect. The amount of times I have seen the UJ incorrectly flown in many places – Outside the European Parliament building in 2010…for example…
I am glad it is not that gaudy red version the press showed. This is not as bad as feared. A scaled down version on the 2x Global 5500 that 32 sqn needs would be OK.
If it’s looked at by analogy with a flag on a jack-staff at the rear of a ship then the convention seems fairly obvious.
Its better than BAs
I’ve seen some complaints that it is too shiny.
I think it looks smart