Hello Darkstar fans! The Reno Air Races are a week away and we can’t wait to race the L-139! Can you hear the excitement in our voices?!?! We have been very humbled by the amount of the likes and comments we’ve received — but with those comments come questions so get ready to learn about the logo’s lineage because it goes way back.
Hear Us Roar
Our team logo has been greeted with an amazing response which puts a large, silly grin on our faces because we’re all about image! Aside from the number one question, “What is difference between the L-139 and L-39?” The second is about the graphics. “So why the lion?” Oh and — look closely, the lion has two tails! So what’s the significance of the logo? Are we simply predators on the search for the next great aviation adventure?
We first laid eyes on the Aero Vodochody L-139 Albatros back in November 2013; let’s just say it was a fantastic Thanksgiving, within a matter of weeks we were working on the paint scheme. No joke we had close to 70 designs with various graphics, colors and gradients of just the side view! We started out with incorporating another logo we often use, but that didn’t sit well. This high performance fighter jet needed its own personality!
The L-139 Design Process
The first 25 proofs quickly became a blur so we figured, let’s go back to basics. The jet’s roots are where we first began our search…
The L-139 Albatros 2000 was developed by the Czechoslovakian Air Force as a prototype of the L-39. It is the only one in the entire world ever produced so we needed everything about it to stand above the rest.
Lo and behold — when we saw the 25th proof we knew we were headed in the right direction. But the graphics on the tail weren’t jiving with the rest of the look. Then we remembered something we’d read about the Czech symbols and that was when things started to come together.
To the Coat of Arms!
The Czech coat of arms dates back to the 1200’s. It consists of a shield divided into 4 squares. The top left and bottom right squares are red, with a 2-tailed, white, crowned lion. The silver double-tailed lion was introduced by King Ottokar II in 1249.
The lion is the symbol of Bohemia and signifies power and sovereignty. The top right square is blue and contains a red-and-white checkered, crowned eagle. This is the Moravian eagle, adapted from the Saint Wenceslas eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. The bottom left square is gold and contains a black, crowned eagle, which symbolizes the Silezian region of the country. Today, the Czech lion by itself is also used as a symbol of the Czech Republic.
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The small state emblem consists of a red shield which contains a sliver split-tailed lion rampant with a golden crown and golden claws. The stance of the lion is loaded with symbology. It is called a lion “rampant”, which means the animal is standing up in an ‘attack’ position with its right for and hind legs higher than the left. It’s typically the symbol of a monarch. The lion is noble, brave and fierce, and as such is a fitting symbol for a ruler, who seeks to emulate the lions nature. We browsed through several Czech history books at our local library but could not find an explanation for the double-tail. Was it because Premysl Otakar II used double-tailed lion as sign, that he is “second, or younger king” of Bohemia? It’s a plausible theory.
Once we read all about the lion, we knew the Czech lion had be apart of the L-139’s graphics.
The final paint scheme as we know and love it today!
Of course we still had a long road about 40 more proofs ahead of us to go to finish all of the graphics! But finally in late March the final decision was made.
Fast forward two years later and here we are! About to compete in the “World’s Fastest Motorsport” race. It has been an arduous process, but when you feast your eyes on the newly improved L-139 you know it was well worth it.
There you have it RARA enthusiasts, everything you didn’t even know you wanted to know about Czech emblems! Thanks for all of your support, it makes the journey all that much sweeter!
See ya soon!
Darkstar out
