Frontier's Animal Tails

[corl737]

So, how long do those pretty picture decals last? I was at DEN this week and saw several of them starting to erode from the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. While the photos are nice marketing gimmicks it would be interesting to know how the cost holds up vs. a more traditional paint scheme.

Also, who gets to choose what the next animals will be? I'm waiting to fly on the Frontier Amoeba!

 

[mga707]

Also, who gets to choose what the next animals will be? I'm waiting to fly on the Frontier Amoeba! 

There's a definite mammalian/avian bias going on: No reptiles, amphibians, fish, and NO invertebrates of ANY phylum! Where's the giant banana slug?

 

[mrfish3726]

CORL737,

The leading edges of the decals have been an ongoing issue with Frontier. Our engineering department had an EO to put clear poly tape on the leading edges. It worked till Airbus said that it created a path for increased static electircity. A soulution has still not been found. Fine Line Graphics here in Denver has a contract with Frontier to keep the decals as ship shape as they can. I don't know all of the details but I do know that a set of decals costs around 55K, not including what F9 has to pay the photographer for royalties. As any aircraft maintenance, it is one that will continue on everyday at F9.

mga707,

Yes the Mammal/Avian bias was set by marketing and management. No bugs or reptiles allowed. And as for who chooses what gets put on an aircraft, suggestions are taken by management for new creatures. After that when a list is compiled the employees get to vote on what should be on the tail. Myself being a very avid turkey hunter I can't wait to see a big gobbler strutting his stuff. Or maybe a big blue marlin jumping off the point og Cabo San Lucas

 

[mga707]

mga707,

Yes the Mammal/Avian bias was set by marketing and management. No bugs or reptiles allowed. And as for who chooses what gets put on an aircraft, suggestions are taken by management for new creatures. After that when a list is compiled the employees get to vote on what should be on the tail. Myself being a very avid turkey hunter I can't wait to see a big gobbler strutting his stuff. Or maybe a big blue marlin jumping off the point og Cabo San Lucas 

[post="290271"][/post]​

Sorry, no blue marlin. If only mammals and birds are even considered, then fish (such as yourself) need not apply...
I think their prejudice toward warm-blooded creatures is short-sighted, as North America certainly has other cool animals that don't fall into that category. Imagine a huge western diamondback, coiled and ready to strike, up there on the tail, or perhaps a beautiful pink-and- black-beaded Gila monster (large poisonous lizard), or how about a nice, plump, red tarantula!
(all three are local fauna 'round these parts...)

 

[tadjr]

This months Airliners magazine (Sept/Oct 05) has F9 on its cover and a big article on their animal tails inside. It lists all of the planes and has pictures of them. Pretty nice layout. Anyone who is a Frontier fan should definitely get this one.