From Flying Lady to Flying Icons: the story of our aircraft nose art

By Virgin Atlantic | 13 July 2026 | 6 minute read

Virgin Atlantic flying icon Ruby

Look towards the nose of a Virgin Atlantic aircraft and you may spot a distinctive character travelling with us.

Our aircraft nose art has become one of the most recognisable parts of the Virgin Atlantic livery. Inspired by the work of Peruvian artist Alberto Vargas, the original Flying Lady brought a sense of individuality, movement and personality to our planes.

Over the years, the artwork has evolved alongside our aircraft and the world around us. There have been new designs, one-off characters and plenty of technical problem-solving along the way.

Here’s the story behind an icon that was always made to move.

Where did aircraft nose art begin?

Aircraft nose art existed long before Virgin Atlantic took to the skies.

An early known example was a dragon painted on a flying boat in 1913. The practice later became closely associated with military aircraft during the First and Second World Wars, when crews used artwork to give otherwise identical machines a sense of individuality.

The images could express humour, confidence, pride or a little rebellion. They were sometimes treated as good-luck symbols too, bringing something familiar and human to an unfamiliar world.

That spirit made nose art a natural fit for Virgin Atlantic. We have never been particularly interested in looking or feeling like everybody else.

Richard and Holly and no Flying Icon

How did the Flying Lady join Virgin Atlantic?

When Virgin Atlantic operated its first flight in 1984, our livery was mostly white. The engines had yet to receive their famous red finish, and the Virgin logo was the main decoration near the front of the aircraft.
 

When the idea of adding nose art emerged, a search began for an image with the right mix of glamour, energy and character.
 

Inspiration came from Alberto Vargas, the Peruvian artist whose illustrations appeared in magazines and influenced the artwork carried by many American aircraft during the Second World War. The image that inspired our original design was traced to the December 1943 edition of Esquire magazine.
 

With permission from the Vargas estate, the figure often known as the Varga Girl began appearing on our aircraft.
 

Exactly when and where the first one flew remains a little piece of Virgin Atlantic folklore.

How has the Flying Lady changed?

Like the aircraft carrying her, the Flying Lady has never stood still.

An early version held a flag bearing the Virgin name and wore a neckerchief. A later design introduced the Union flag, before another refresh removed the neckerchief and made the flag larger.

There have also been several one-off interpretations over the years. Austin Powers and Dita Von Teese have both appeared, while Golden Girl was created in celebration of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

During a relief flight to Basra after the first Gulf War, the usual artwork was covered by a Union flag.

Each version marked a moment in our history while keeping the personality of the original idea.

Meet the team

Ruby

Our Ruby Rebel, none other than G-VSRB (A339neo)

Toast of the Skies

Our Birthday Girl,  G-VNEW,  is upfront for this B787 Dreamliner

Varga Girl

You can spot Varga Girl on our Boeing 787's and Airbus A330's

Rey

Rey heads up these leading ladies

Rosie Lee aka G-VTEA
Fearless Lady, G-VEVE
Eliza Doolittle, G-VLDY
Queen of the Skies, G-VEII
Cherry Bakewell, G-VPIE

Mei

Mei is proud to fly on
Joan Jet, G-VRIF (A339neo) and
Ruby Slipper, G-VDOT (A350)

Daley

Daley takes to the skies on
Soul Rebel - G-VBOB
Space Oddity - G-VTOM
Purple Rain - G-VRNB

Arya

Arya leads the way on the A350, G-VNVR, aka Wendy Darling
 

Zadie

Zadie guides the way on 5 of our fleet
G-VLUX - Red Velvet 
G-VPOP - Mamma Mia
G-VJAM - Queen of Hearts
G-VJAZ - Billie Holiday
G-VEYR - Jane Air

Oscar

Oscar is onboard for
Bennie Jet (G-VELJ) and Rain Bow (G-VPRD)

How is aircraft nose art applied?

Most versions of the Flying Lady were not painted directly onto the aircraft. They were created as vinyl decals made up of three separate pieces.

Applying them required serious precision. Align the flag perfectly and the figure could end up with an unexpected crease. Smooth the figure first and the flag might no longer sit exactly where it should.

Once the decal was positioned, a sealing lacquer was applied over the artwork to help protect it.

Its location near the front of the aircraft made this particularly important. The nose is a high-friction area, exposed to fast-moving air, changing temperatures and everything the weather can throw at it.

The result may have looked effortless from the terminal window, but getting it there was part engineering, part craftsmanship and part extremely patient puzzle.

Why was the Boeing 787 different?

Adding nose art to our Boeing 787 aircraft required a new approach.
 

Much of the Boeing 787 fuselage is made from composite materials rather than traditional aluminium. Strict technical limits apply to the amount of material that can sit on top of the composite surface.
 

To meet those requirements, the vinyl artwork had to be incorporated into the paint system. An indentation matching the decal helped it sit within the finished livery rather than simply resting on top.
 

It was a neat meeting of design and engineering: a familiar icon adapted for a new generation of aircraft.

The Flying Lady painted by hand

One version was especially unusual.
 

Known as the Archer, the figure appeared on G-TKYO carrying a bow and arrow. Created for the aircraft’s introduction into service in 1989, the artwork was not applied as a vinyl decal. It was painted directly onto the aircraft by a specialist signwriter and mural artist in Paris.
 

The original design also featured a cheeky detail aimed at competitors on the London to Tokyo route. Pirate hats bearing the names of rival airlines were placed along the red line beneath the windows, with the Archer taking aim.
 

The hats were eventually removed. After all, those same airlines might have been needed to help if the aircraft experienced a technical issue in Tokyo.
 

The Archer remained, however, as one of the most individual pieces of Virgin Atlantic aircraft artwork.

Decals being added to the aircraft

From early artwork to sharper designs

The original decal fitted to our early Boeing 747-200 aircraft was the largest version of the Flying Lady.
 

It was also costly to apply and maintain, so later designs became smaller. Improvements in printing technology made a significant difference too.
 

Early artwork was printed at 72 dots per inch, which could appear blocky when viewed close up. Later versions were produced at 300 dots per inch, creating a cleaner and more detailed finish.
 

Passengers may only see the finished image for a moment as they board or watch an aircraft taxi towards the runway. Behind it sit decades of design decisions, technical testing and careful craftsmanship.

Meet our fleet

An A330neo seen flying towards a sunset

Airbus A330neo

Next-generation efficiency, comfort and connectivity

Our newest A330neo aircraft have a different cabin layout, with 48 Upper Class seats, 56 Premium seats, and 128 Economy seats. In Upper Class, you’ll find six Retreat Suites, including new Window Retreat Suites and central suites with quad dining.

Our Airbus A330neo