This custom GLEX is anything but ordinary. With a striking blue and black paint scheme and a breathtaking topographic map design adorning its tail, the aircraft is a true work of art. Completed at Duncan Aviation’s full-service facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, this one- of-a-kind project showcases innovation, precision, and a deep collaboration between world-class designers and aviation experts.
The unique design was the result of a collaborative effort between Duncan Aviation Designer Jaime Blanken and the owner’s residential interior designers at Alicia Cheung Design and Eva Bradley Studio.
“They sent me pictures of various interior designs they had created for the owner, which helped me understand the colors and styles he prefers,” says Jaime. “The aircraft interior was already blue, and he wanted to extend that palette to the exterior.”
Alicia Cheung, principal of Alicia Cheung Design, says they’ve had the privilege of designing several of the owner’s homes over the years, and when the opportunity to design his aircraft came about, they were beyond excited to extend their collaboration and create a space in the sky that reflects his unique style and vision.
Eva Bradley, principal of Eva Bradley Studio, says the Duncan Aviation team was an absolute pleasure to work with.
“Their expertise and professionalism were evident every step of the way,” she says. “Alicia and I always felt well-supported, and no question, request, or change was ever too much for them to handle. Their ‘can-do’ attitude was incredibly reassuring and made for a productive and enjoyable working relationship.”
The aircraft’s most eye-catching feature is a gradient fade from Stone Grey on the nose to Ocean Blue Pearl down the fuselage, complemented by the topographic map on the tail, done in Regal Blue Pearl. The map represents a location of personal significance to the owner, making the design both distinctive and meaningful.
“We wanted to try something new,” says Jaime. “After selecting the map, we positioned it to fit the tail perfectly. We completed the left side first and then positioned a portion of the map on the right side of the tail to extend the map in the opposite direction, ensuring accuracy and balance. I always enjoy being as creative as possible, along with personalizing the design for the client.”
The finished product allowed for an out-of-the-box design that will resonate with the owner for years to come.
The successful completion of this aircraft’s custom paint scheme was a team effort. The Layout team played a crucial role in applying the map design and ensuring seamless transitions across the aircraft’s complex curves, both inside and out.
“Transforming a two-dimensional design into a flawless finish on a curved aircraft surface is no easy task,” says Paint Team Lead Cody Hasse. “But, their attention to detail made it look effortless.”
Team Hasse applied the custom paint scheme perfectly, and sprayed the fade after collaborating closely with the Director of Maintenance to finalize the line locations, starting, and stopping points. Their precision ensured the design aligned with the aircraft’s contours. Long hours were spent making sure every line was crisp and every detail flawless before the final clear coat was applied to the entire aircraft.
Once the paintwork was complete, the aircraft moved to the Detail team, where the finishing touches were applied. This phase elevated the finished product to an exceptional level.
“This project went smoothly thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Paint, Layout, Detail, and Airframe teams,” says Cody. “The outstanding support enabled us to deliver a product that exceeded expectations.”