Anniversary with unique aircraft livery
The renowned model making company Herpa Miniaturmodelle and the traditional airline German Airways, in cooperation, are set to realize a particularly striking initiative. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Herpa Miniaturmodelle, one of the airline’s Embraer E190s registered D-ACJJ has been repainted in a special anniversary livery celebrating Herpa. The jet will subsequently take to the skies of Europe, starting July 2.
Over the last decades, Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH, founded in 1949 by Wilhelm Hergenröther, has established itself as the market and innovation leader for true-to-original miniature models. Initially, the focus was on diorama landscaping, followed by car and truck models. In 1988, the company began producing aircraft models, which became increasingly detailed over time. Many airplane fans attach great importance to precise printing and authentic reproduction - the manufacturer from Dietenhofen implementing this in various scales, true to its slogan "Details are our passion".
German Airways, the second oldest German airline, made one of its Embraer E190 jets available for this special project. The aircraft with the registration D-ACJJ sports the Herpa brand. "Our cooperation combines two passions: our love of aviation and of detailed models," explains German Airways Managing Director Maren Wolters. "In this way, the company's 75-year history will take to the skies in a really breath-taking way."
Joint special livery
There are many aircraft fans, particularly among model makers, who are enthusiastic about the technology and design of modern passenger aircraft. This initiative is therefore likely to meet with great interest, not just among Herpa collectors, but also among the wider community of aviation enthusiasts. By the way: You can follow the original Herpa machine in the live ticker.
Moreover, this special livery will not be reserved to the taxi-ways and skies. Herpa is planning to produce limited editions of its anniversary aircraft in no less than three sizes. Aircraft collectors and model building enthusiasts can look forward to securing a unique piece of aviation history expressing the passion for precision shared by both companies.
Text: Mathias Neigenfind and Heinz Joachim Schöttes
Photos: German Airways
Facts and figures
The predecessor airline was originally founded on July 29, 1955 by Theodor Wüllenkemper. It was the second German airline to receive an operating license after Lufthansa. Today's German Airways was actually founded in 1974 as WDL Flugdienst (Westdeutsche Luftwerbung GmbH). Until its name change in 2020, the company was known as WDL Aviation. German Airways is a German charter airline and works mainly on behalf of other airlines, for which it operates flights to German and European destinations.
Founded: 1974
Headquarters: Cologne
Home airport: Cologne/Bonn Airport
Employees: Around 100 (Germany)
Fleet: 8 Embraer 190
www.germanairways.com
