Jungle Jet Jungle Jets

Introducing the Ecuatoriana Jungle Jets

1975-1984

Original Artwork by Oswaldo Guayasamín and uncredited artists

Jungle Jets

1973 saw the introduction of Braniff’s Calder breakthrough flying artwork called Flying Colours of South America. This aircraft was a frequent visitor to Ecuador on the Miami to Guayaquil/Quito route and Braniff was the established carrier on the market.

It is one of the reasons why, when state carrier Ecuatoriana was relaunched in 1974 (even though it was run by the Ecuadorian Air Force), a rather unconservative decision was initiated: each of the two 720B to be acquired by the airline would wear a unique livery designed by Quito-born artist Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999). He was an Ecuadorian master painter and sculptor of Quechua and Mestizo heritage. His Pan-American art of human and social inequalities achieved international recognition; it is however its take on pre-columbian patterns that can be appreciated here.

The project called for five liveries to represent 5 Ecuadorian provinces and while the first two aircraft were designed by Guayasamín himself (or adapted from his work), the last three aircraft were designed by uncredited artists, possibly from the School of Fine Arts of Quito.

Chimborazo Pájaro del Sol

Chimborazo   Pájaro del Sol

Jungle Jet #5

by Oswaldo Guayasamín

HC-BFC

B707-321B

Ecuatoriana

1978-82

The last Ecuatoriana special depicted the Chimborazo province, itself a small resume of Ecuador. The snow-covered Chimborazo volcano (6,267m) Nand its multi-peak silhouette could be seen above the wings. This summit is linked to the sun because it is the farthest point from the center of the planet (see here why). The sun itself also represents ancient Incan sun god Inti, and the iconic Andean condor is associated with the sun deity, which brings us to the other name of this livery: Pájaro del Sol, Bird of the Sun, for Messenger of the Gods.

While the Chimborazo volcano is typical of La Sierra (the central mountain belt of Ecuador), it also separates the two other continental regions of the country: La Costa, with the waves of the Pacific Ocean covering the rear part of the aircraft, and the green El Oriente with its tropical forest on the other side.

Image  ©  Jacques Guillem Collection (MIA)
Tags   Original Artwork

Napo

Napo

Jungle Jet #4

by an uncredited artist

HC-BDP

B720-023B/F

Ecuatoriana

1977-84

With its greenish scheme this aircraft was often referred to as "The Salad Bowl" or "The Lettuce". Even if this freighter certainly carried perishable goods during its career, the scheme was in fact intended to depict the central Napo province. This very scarsely populated district is located in the Ecuadorian section of the Amazon rainforest. Therefore it is logical the local Aboriginal artist depicted the thick rainforest all over the plane...

On a sidenote the Napo province was in 2000 the sole remaining majority-indigenous province of Ecuador with most people either claiming indigenous identity or speaking an indigenous language.

Image  ©  Jacques Guillem Collection (MIA)
Tags   Original Artwork

Guayas

Guayas

Jungle Jet #3

by an uncredited artist

HC-BCT

B707-321B

Ecuatoriana

1976-80*

Guayas is the most populous province in Ecuador; it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the city of Guayaquil, the largest in the country, is located in Guayas. The diversity of the province’s natural terrain is depicted in the livery: the sun shining on the coast could be seen on the front part of the plane while the rear referred to the humid and fertile inland parts of the province. Ecuador is also one of the world's top producer of flowers, which were depicted on the middle part of the fuselage.

The province is also a large river basin and the Guayas River flow was depicted in the livery as well (see the light blue curve descending from the tail).

Image  ©  Jacques Guillem Collection (MIA)
Tags   Original Artwork

Imbabura Guayasamín

Imbabura

Jungle Jet #2

by Oswaldo Guayasamín

HC-AZQ

B720-023B

Ecuatoriana

1975-78*

The second aircraft took the name of Imbabura after the Ecuador province of the same name. The wheat leaves on the tail referred to the local agriculture: the Imbabura volcano slopes are particularly fertile and are extensively farmed.

The province is also known for the scenic Yahuarcocha (literally Blood Lake in Quechua) which is of particular significance in indigenous culture: the lake acquired its name after the battle and subsequent massacre that took place on its shores in the late 15th/early 16th century. Inca Emperor Huayna Capac indeed ordered the massacre of the local male population of Caranqui in retribution for its resistance against the empire. This event probably inspired Guayasamín's semi-abstract depiction of the province, with the red of blood blending with the blue of the lake waters.

Image  ©  Jacques Guillem Collection (UIO)
Tags   Original Artwork

Galapagos Guayasamín

Galapagos   ★

Jungle Jet #1

by Oswaldo Guayasamín

HC-AZP

B720-023B

Ecuatoriana

1975-79

The first special livery unveiled by Ecuatoriana was HC-AZP in January 1975. This 720B was named «Galapagos», and the scheme was a testimony of Guayasamín’s modern take on Ecuadorian indigenous artwork. Although Guayasamín’s work encompasses many other subjects, the foundation he launched in the mid 1970s keeps a part of its focus on gathering precolumbian art. Note the early curved Ecuatoriana titles were later replaced by square-shaped letters.

The Galápagos Islands is a mostly uninhabited archipelago known for its endemic species. Wildlife patterns were predominant in this livery with an iguana shape spread along the fuselage, a long red and black snake running from the nose to the tail of the plane and what could be a tortoise head near the front door.

Image  ©  Jacques Guillem Collection (MIA)
Tags   Original Artwork