What on Earth is is nose art”?
Nose art is the painting of a motif or personal icon on an aircraft (or for that matter any item of equipment). Today’s equivalent of aircraft nose art in the civilian world are aircraft liveries such as Qantas, Aeroflot, Continental and Ansett. Virgin Airlines have a small female figure on the side of every aircraft. Historically nose art is not new. War canoes in ancient times were adorned with large wooden heads, sailing ships were adorned with a figure head at the bow, and sailors wore tattoos. Indian war parties used paint to adorn themselves and their horses in supplication to a “Great Spirit”. Weapons of antiquity such as swords and shields often had designs and motifs that represented the valour of the owner. In peacetime, owners of motor vehicles, boats and other items of hardware paint images or adhere transfers that attempt to promote the owner’s personality or cause to anyone who is looking. The classic transfer of 2002 is the sticker that reads “bad girl” or “bitch” and is
