OK...🙂...First of all, NO, this is no heart-rending drama of human separation and reunion, but actually reflects the story of my (local) United Airlines. I've been meaning to illustrate this interesting aspect of United Airlines, since a long time, but never got to it. So, here we go...

I distinctly recall in 2012, when Continental Airlines and United Airlines (officially) merged together to form the new United. Many of us would also remember the good old Continental Airlines and might have even flown in the SIM many of Continental's classic liveries (such as the "Golden Jet Livery" or the "Contrails" livery) with classic airplane types (such as the B727 or B707). However, the livery that is probably most familiar to most folks around the world is Continental's "Golden Globe Livery" with the golden globe spinning on a blue background, on the tails of their aircraft. It's the same globe logo that has survived to this day, though not with bygone Continental Airlines, but with United Airlines.

The origins of both Continental and United go back to the same (genetic) roots. It's the same aviation pioneer, Walter Varney, who founded the forerunners of both these airlines, and in fact, you would find him listed in the Wiki, as the "Founder" of both airlines (an amazing credit indeed). United (the older sibling) was born first in 1926 from "Varney Air Lines", and Continental (the younger sibling) arrived 8 years later in 1934 from "Varney Speed Lines"; note the common denominator "Varney" in both names...so it's the same parent, and just two siblings, so to speak...🙂...Parting ways (just like siblings do), Continental would eventually make its home in Houston (TX) and United would move to Chicago (IL). The roots of both airlines, however, trace back to the same Varney Air Lines, Walter Varney, and to Boise, Idaho, on the west coast...

The two airlines would continue their independent existence for more than 75 years. Ironically, however, they would be finally re-united into a single entity in 2012, long after the death of their parent, Walter Varney...not driven by emotional ties, but due to extenuating circumstances driven by financial factors...

Just as Continental, United would also wear many different colors throughout its illustrious past. We virtual flyers might recall the "blue and white wedge" livery of United 727s from our past SIMs (we miss here the trijet 727 in MSFS...🙂...). One specimen of this type and this UAL livery is immaculately preserved in the local Science Museum (inside the building and cleverly suspended in mid-air as if it is still flying). Whenever I visit this Museum, I always linger a bit around that exhibit, getting to touch those P&W JT8D engines...🙂..., engines with noise that would have woken up the neighborhood at one time, but now gone silent...🙂...One of the memorable United logos, that most of us would easily remember to this day, was the so-called "Tulip" (flower)...a "red-white-blue" stylized Tulip in the shape of two overlapped letters (U), which is the first letter of the airline's name (for this livery, see my middle set of images, below). That famous logo would eventually go away (in favor of the golden globe) when United merged with Continental. So, the older sibling's name lived on while the younger sibling's spirit (the logo) lived on too. The former's survival was granted by the latter's demise, so to speak. This golden-globe liveried 777s of UAL, I recall most from my RW (long-haul) travels.

Then, about 5 years ago, in 2019, following a much-anticipated announcement, United would reveal the new "globe", the same "globe" but with its color changed from "gold" to "light-blue", which is what you see today on the tails of UAL aircraft. Many then thought the "Tulip" would be back instead, but it's as if the older sibling deferred to the memory of the younger sibling's spirit...at least for now...🙂...

Please find 3 sets of images below (1) Continental's final golden globe livery lifting off from (KIAH) Houston, its final headquarters and hub (2) United's classic Tulip livery in mid-flight cruise (3) And the latest light-blue globe livery of United touching down into (KORD) Chicago, UAL's current headquarters and hub.

...all these pictures in the colors of an Airbus A320neo (so, only the last set would be considered of a real A320 color, while the others are fictitious). Nonetheless, my hats are off to those (knowledgeable) repainters of the A320neo, who have contributed such a massive repertoire of colors, real and fictitious, (I wish it were also true for the 737 colors in my xbox). This color palette aligns more with my interests, and, of course, the intricate mechanics (and realistic fidelity) of any plane also certainly has a place in this great hobby of ours...🙂.... Anyway, we now need, those DC-10s, B707s, B727s etc., flying in this SIM too, to make some of these fictitious liveries to be real...We'll have to wait and see...

Hope you enjoy this collection of images and these bits of history (if you cared to read it...🙂...) ...about my local airline...!

Thanks for viewing...! Happy flying...!

 

Edited June 2, 20242 yr by P_7878

Great presentation. Almost teary-eyed over your recounting of the sibling reconnect saga 🙂.

Thats some fine set set - well done !

cheers 😉

Nice shots! 😉 

Wonderful set, P_7878! My preferred livery is the Saul Bass skin. I have crossed in the 747SP with this livery the Pacific numerous times. Fond memories!

On 6/2/2024 at 11:21 AM, John F said:

Great presentation. Almost teary-eyed over your recounting of the sibling reconnect saga 🙂.

Thanks, John. Yes, indeed, it has all the elements of a Hallmark rendition of a tearjerker...🙂...

 

On 6/2/2024 at 11:36 AM, pmplayer said:

Thats some fine set set - well done !

cheers 😉

Appreciated the comment, pmplayer...! Cheers...!

 

On 6/2/2024 at 11:47 AM, Alaska738 said:

Nice shots! 😉 

Many thanks, Will ...!!

 

On 6/2/2024 at 11:49 AM, bernd1151 said:

Wonderful set, P_7878! My preferred livery is the Saul Bass skin. I have crossed in the 747SP with this livery the Pacific numerous times. Fond memories!

Thanks, bernd, for recounting the memories of the Saul Bass Skin UAL ...🙂...In fact, if I am not mistaken you were the last to show here that Tulip Livery...forget which aircraft, it was...probably a Jumbo...🙂...