Most vehicle graphics projects arrive on four wheels.
This one had wings.
For AMS Aircraft Recovery, we headed to Cotswold Airport near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, to design, produce and install custom aircraft livery graphics onto a full-size Airbus A319 training plane.
Large-scale lettering. Bold AMS branding. An entire aircraft to work with.
Not exactly your average vehicle graphics job.
Project Details
Client: AMS Aircraft Recovery
Industry: Aviation / Aircraft Recovery Training
Vehicle: Airbus A319 Aircraft
Location: Cotswold Airport, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Service: Aircraft livery graphics, design, print and installation
Graphic type: Single-colour conforming vinyl and wrapping vinyl
Giving a training aircraft its identity.
AMS Aircraft Recovery specialises in aircraft recovery equipment and training, helping airports, airlines and aviation professionals prepare for situations where an aircraft needs to be safely recovered.
Their training facility in the Cotswolds uses real aircraft for practical, hands-on training.
Which presented a rather good branding opportunity.
The brief was to transform the A319 into a recognisable part of the AMS brand, using prominent aircraft livery graphics that would clearly communicate the purpose of the plane.
The main feature is the large AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRAINING lettering running along the fuselage, accompanied by the distinctive AMS logo and branding across the aircraft.
Simple messaging.
Just on a considerably bigger scale.
An Airbus is not a flat surface.
Designing graphics for an aircraft comes with its own challenges.
The fuselage might look like one enormous blank canvas, but there are quite a few things to consider before applying anything.
Curved bodywork. Cabin windows. Access panels. Doors. Panel joints.
And a lot of surface area.
The lettering needed to follow the proportions of the Airbus A319 while remaining visually straight and consistent across the length of the aircraft.
That meant carefully considering the scale, spacing and placement of every graphic before installation.
On a van, a slightly misaligned letter might be noticeable.
On an aeroplane, it has several metres to make itself obvious.
Best to get that right the first time.
Specialist vinyl. Aircraft-sized application.
For the livery, we used single-colour conforming vinyl and wrapping vinyl to create crisp, high-contrast graphics across the aircraft's white bodywork.
Rather than covering the entire plane with printed material, the design makes use of the existing white fuselage as part of the overall identity.
The bold navy lettering creates a strong visual contrast, keeping the messaging clear and readable from a distance.
Once the graphics had been prepared, our team carried out the installation on-site at Cotswold Airport.
Working from aircraft access steps, each section of vinyl was carefully positioned, aligned and applied to the aircraft's curved exterior.
Application tape helped hold the larger lettering and logo elements in position during installation before being removed to reveal the finished graphics.
It's a process that requires patience, careful handling and a good eye for alignment.
Particularly when your canvas is an Airbus.
From fuselage lettering to tail branding.
One of the most important parts of the project was making sure the aircraft felt like one complete piece of branding rather than a collection of separate stickers.
The large AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TRAINING lettering stretches across the upper fuselage, creating a clear statement that can be read from across the airfield.
The AMS logos bring the company's identity into the design, with the distinctive branding on the tail making the aircraft recognisable from another angle.
Together, the graphics give the A319 a professional, purposeful appearance that reflects its role within the aircraft recovery training facility.
And unlike most signage projects, this one comes with a rather impressive wingspan.
A finished aircraft with a clear purpose.
The result is a fully branded AMS training aircraft that looks equally at home in the middle of a practical recovery exercise or as the backdrop for the company's aviation training activities.
The combination of large-format vinyl lettering, clean brand graphics and carefully positioned details gives the aircraft a consistent visual identity without overwhelming its original appearance.
For us, it's a great example of how the same principles behind good vehicle branding can be applied on a completely different scale.
Good design.
The right materials.
And an installation that makes everything look like it belongs.
Even when the thing you're branding is an Airbus A319.
Aircraft livery graphics and specialist vehicle wrapping in Gloucestershire and across the UK
At Toy Creative, we design, produce and install custom vinyl graphics for all sorts of vehicles and specialist applications.
From commercial van signage and fleet graphics to large-format branding and one-off aircraft livery projects, we bring the design, production and installation together.
Based in Buckinghamshire, we work on projects across Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, London and throughout the UK.
Whether you need a straightforward vinyl logo or something on a considerably larger scale, the important part is making sure the graphics are designed for the surface they're going onto.
Not just made to fit.
Made to look right.
Got something a little unusual that needs branding?
Van, trailer, specialist vehicle or aircraft — we're always interested in a project that gives us something different to work on.
We can handle the whole process, from artwork and vinyl production to professional installation.
