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Welcome to our 100 part series on the history of BA and its predecessor airlines.
The “Speedbird” logo designed for Imperial Airways by Theyre Lee-Elliott in 1932 is considered one of the most enduring examples of modern graphic design.
Based on a stylised motif of a bird in flight it was retained by Imperial Airways’ successor BOAC.
In spite of many changes to BOAC’s identity and its fleet over decades, the Speedbird remained a consistent part of its aircraft liveries and visual identity.
It also featured on the first British Airways Negus livery. However, it was replaced by the Speedwing when BA introduced the Landor livery in 1984.
You can still see the Speedbird logo on the platform of Hatton Cross London Underground station. Of course the Speedbird name is still used as the Air Traffic Control callsign for BA.
More To Read From BA100:
- BA100: 26. British Airtours Flight 28M
- BA100: 27. Imperial Airways’ Silver Wing Service
- BA100: 28. BOAC Presents “Tomorrow Is Theirs”
- BA100: 29. Flight BA38
- BA100: 30. “Opportunities” (2009)
- BA100: 31. The Iberia Merger
- BA100: 32. The Landor Livery
- BA100: 33. Swift, Silent, Serene, The BOAC VC10
- BA100: 34. Flight BA149, The Last Flight To Kuwait
- BA100: 35. Project Utopia, The World Tailfins
- BA100: 36. The Friendly Independent, bmi British Midland
- BA100: 37. Gatwick “The Hub Without The Hubbub”
- BA100: 38. Competing Against Low-Cost Airlines
- BA100: 39. The Airbus A380 Aircraft
- BA100: 40. Not Everything Ages Well
