S-61N BEA "Speed Jack" White mug

If the Red Square scheme was BEA's bold statement of the 1950s and early 1960s, the Speedjack that replaced it was the airline's confident declaration that it belonged to the jet age. The Speedjack was designed by the distinguished German-born British designer FHK Henrion, who took the Union Jack and cropped it at the same angle as the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, set against a dark blue background with a slight hint of green, to create a striking new symbol intended to project a dynamic character and a feeling of velocity. The new livery was unveiled in August 1968, and rolled out across BEA's entire fleet — from the Hawker Siddeley Tridents and Vickers Viscounts on the mainline routes, to the S-61Ns that were quietly going about their vital work connecting Penzance with the Isles of Scilly. The entire BEA fleet received the new Speedjack livery, which featured the Union Jack adorning the tail stabilizer and the wings painted in striking red — a combination that made BEA aircraft instantly recognisable at airports across Europe and, in the case of the S-61N, above the dramatic Cornish coastline. There is something particularly pleasing about the sight of the big Sikorsky wearing these colours — the bold tail, the red rotor blades, and the unmistakable Union Jack marking that spoke of British pride and purpose. Some aircraft were still wearing the Speedjack livery as late as 1978, four years after BEA had ceased to exist as a separate airline following its merger with BOAC to form British Airways in 1974 — a testament to just how enduring and well-regarded the scheme was among those who operated and maintained these aircraft. On the S-61N in particular, the Speedjack carries a special resonance: a thoroughly British helicopter service, in a thoroughly British livery, doing what British aviation does best — quietly, reliably, and with considerable style. 

Product details:

• Ceramic
• 11 oz mug dimensions: 3.85″ (9.8 cm) in height, 3.35″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (12 cm) in height, 3.35″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Blank product sourced from China

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!