Originally Posted by
Musket90
Yes Dave they appear to be. I photographed the Braniff one in late 70's early 80's when Braniff very rarely replaced the "big orange" B747 with the DC8-62
Braniff International had several DC-62's painted in a similar blue livery as seen in the photo and the DC 8-62 is the same aircraft in both.
Rich International acquired one DC8-62 from Braniff International in December 1983 N610BN. It was sold to LACSA in August 1986 having never been fully painted in the Rich International livery of silver body with a red, white and blue cheatline.
Regarding the "Big Orange", this reference was to their original Boeing 747 N601BN delivered in 1971 which had an orange body with a white tail with the large letters BN in orange.
From 1971 to 1979 Braniff International had just the one Boeing 747 in their fleet, their original flagship N601BN which was affectionately referred to as the "Big Orange".
From 1979 up until the airline's collapse in May 1982 Braniff International had eight Boeing 747 in their fleet including three Boeing 747SP variants, all fully painted orange including their tails. N601BN remained in it's original livery throughout it's career with Braniff International.
Once more examples started entering service with the airline the term "Big Orange" tended to be collective term of phrase regarding the entire Braniff International Boeing 747 fleet.
By 1979 up until the airline's collapse all of Braniff International fleet of Boeing 747's we're used on DFW-LGW and all we're referred to as the "Big Orange".
Not a full size photo but here is Braniff International N601BN the original ''Big Orange'' at London Stansted Airport on a weather diversion from London Gatwick Airport in October 1978. Also in view is a BWIA British West Indian Airlines Boeing 707 on a similar weather diversion from London Heathrow Airport.