The friendly skies are now also perfectly safe for droids. All Nippon Airways has revealed its new R2-D2 influenced 787-9 Dreamliner, a project unveiled at the opening day of the Star Wars Celebration fan convention in Anaheim, California. This is the first time a Star Wars character will appear on the exterior of a commercial aircraft, and marks the beginning of ANA’s five-year Star Wars Project with Disney as ANA attempts to enhance its international presence from Dantooine to Dagobah.
“The R2-D2 motif works will with ANA’s blue logo design on the aircraft’s fuselage,” Takashi Shiki, ANA Executive Vice President, says. (It’s probably a much better fit than the R5-D4, particularly with their faulty motivators.) “Many people associate R2-D2 with competent and reliable service—also hallmarks of ANA’s 5-star service,” Shiki adds. It’s true—R2 was the only one in the room that knew how to fix the hyperdrive when Han and Chewbacca had been putzing around with it for days.
“We’re proud of the innovative R2-D2 design, and we look forward to witnessing the first-ever flight of a passenger aircraft featuring a Star Wars character,” Kayleen Walters, Lucasfilm Vice President of Marketing, says. Marketing reps have not revealed any plans for future designs, but Jek Porkins and Biggs Darklighter are probably out of the running.
Obi-Wan Kenobi should have the tractor beam out of commission, clearing the new jetliner for takeoff, by the autumn of 2015.