Air Force chief picks grey livery for new RNZAF aircraft after $67k design hunt
The Ministry of Defence considered more than 20 design options before choosing the Air Force's new A321XLR aircraft.
Designs inspired by the New Zealand flag and Māori cloaks were part of more than 20 options considered for the livery of the Air Force’s new aircraft.
But the boss of the Royal New Zealand Air Force eventually landed on a basic grey military design with an RNZAF emblem, rather than a deeper “nationalistic” look used by some VIP aircraft around the world.
It was the Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb, who had the final decision.
The work on options for the design of the new plane cost $67,000.
In August, the Government announced it would purchase two new Airbus A321XLR aircraft in a lease-to-buy arrangement, with capital costs of $620 million.
The two new planes will replace the two beleaguered Boeing 757s in service with the RNZAF since 2003, which have a habit of breaking down.
The aircraft are mainly used for troop and cargo movement, but are best known for their role in transporting the Prime Minister and ministers around the world and assisting with royal visits.
The new aircraft are scheduled to arrive in 2028 and will have significantly longer range and fuel efficiency, able to fly from Wellington to Singapore directly.
According to documents obtained by Newstalk ZB, five days after the order was announced by then Defence Minister Judith Collins, officials met with the Webb to consider livery options.
Notes from that meeting show the Air Force chief wanted to steer clear of metallic colours and keep branding away from dirty areas of the plane.
He had a preference for a grey or subdued colour scheme – no lighter than the existing 757s, but no darker than the C130 Hercules.
He was also worried about prominently displaying a fern, wanting to keep any design distinct from Air New Zealand.
The design group presented three types of designs: “nationalist”, “military” or “hybrid”.
These included different colours, fonts, tail designs, and writing, including dual English and Te Reo Māori text.
The designers first presented options of all three types, before a further design booklet with solely “military” designs.
Most designs were focused on RNZAF symbols, with options prominently displaying the No 40 Squadron marking, the RNZAF emblem, trim with “dark Air Force yellow”, and the New Zealand flag.
A final proposal was then presented, using military grey, a tail with the No 40 Squadron marking, and the RNZAF emblem on the fuselage.
Only a small New Zealand flag was included, to the left of the forward door.
The final design was chosen by the Chief of Air Force himself, with neither Collins, Prime Minister Chris Luxon, nor the Cabinet consulted. They were informed of the plans.
“A range of options were considered before settling on the grey with a prominent Kiwi roundel, sending a clear signal that they are military aircraft and are also instantly recognisable as being from New Zealand, no matter the environment,” an NZDF spokesperson said.
Most developed economies across the globe own or lease aircraft for use by heads of state and senior government officials, typically operated by the country’s Air Force.
Many of these planes prominently display the flag of the country, such as Britain’s Airbus Voyager, a modified A330, or Israel’s Wing of Zion, a Boeing 767.
The best-known is the United States’ Air Force One, currently sporting a light-blue colour scheme.
That aircraft will be replaced shortly with a new 747 with a livery of red, white, gold and dark blue and a larger US flag, chosen by President Donald Trump.
Australia owns two Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), modified 737s used for VIP transport. These are emblazoned with “The Royal Australian Air Force”, with a blue and red streak and a large Australian flag.
New Zealand is unusual in mainly using its designated VIP transport for cargo and troop movements.
Some photographs have been digitally altered to remove watermarks.
Ethan Griffiths is a political reporter with Newstalk ZB, based in the parliamentary press gallery. He joined NZME as a print journalist in 2020, previously working as an Open Justice reporter in the Bay of Plenty and Wellington, and as a general reporter in Whanganui.