special livery

Specials mark anniversaries, sponsorships, sports teams, films and retro schemes. Because usually only one airframe in a fleet wears one, tracking down a specific special is a large part of what spotting is, and it is often the whole reason a photograph exists.

Nearby in Aviation

• short final — The last part of final approach, close in to the runway threshold.
• slats — Movable surfaces at the leading edge of the wing that extend to let the wing fly at a higher angle of attack.
• spoilers — Panels on the upper wing that rise to destroy lift and add drag, in flight for descent and on touchdown to plant the aircraft.
• squawk — The four-digit transponder code a controller assigns an aircraft so its radar return can be identified.