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FedEx Honors Founder With Boeing 777 in Vintage Livery

Unveiling of repainted jet coincides with renaming of Memphis airport for late corporation boss Frederick W. Smith

Jonathan Welsh
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Jonathan Welsh

Boeing 777 ‘Rosie’ in its 1973-inspired paint scheme [Credit: FedEx]

FedEx brought back memories for aviation fans of a certain age with the unveiling of a Boeing 777 painted in the company’s original livery, which dates to 1973.

The event helped mark the official renaming of Memphis International Airport Airport as Frederick W. Smith International Airport in honor of the air freight company’s founder, whose development of overnight air delivery revolutionized global commerce and the aviation industry. The airport will retain its well-known identifier, KMEM.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot and lifelong aviation enthusiast who has been a reporter, writer and columnist for 35 years. His career includes stints with the Wall Street Journal, Flying Magazine and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He recently returned to Firecrown to lead Aviation Consumer.