I’m sure there’s going to be a simple explanation for this, but I’m curious anyway.

I’ve recently started working at Melbourne Airport on the airfield, and regularly drive past various planes in their bays. On the side of some of the Australian-based planes is a print of the Australian flag, but I’ve noticed that on some of the planes the flag is printed backwards…. horizontally mirrored.

Simply out of curiosity, why would they print the flag on the fuselage backwards?

You may find the the side of the flag that would have the flagpole, is always towards the front of the plane.

Like of you look at a flag flying on a flag pole, on one side it’s the right way round. Go round the other side and it’s “reversed”.

Dunno…… but that’s my guess.

Well that does make sense :)

Not a bad guess, methinks. :)

http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=75853

https://everythingalsocomplain.com/2013/07/18/singapore-flag-reversed-on-sia-plane/

it looks the right way round in the rearview mirror of the plane in front.

I think this is the most educational posting ever on Stomp! Stephen Forshaw, Vice President Public Affairs of Singapore Airlines writes to Stomp to explain why planes fly with inverted national flags:

“According to flag etiquette, which again traces its origins back to shipping – and was reaffirmed in the earliest days of commercial aviation – a national flag should never be seen to be travelling backwards.

http://izreloaded.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/reason-why-planes-fly-inverted-national.html

Woodie said:

I think this is the most educational posting ever on Stomp! Stephen Forshaw, Vice President Public Affairs of Singapore Airlines writes to Stomp to explain why planes fly with inverted national flags:

“According to flag etiquette, which again traces its origins back to shipping – and was reaffirmed in the earliest days of commercial aviation – a national flag should never be seen to be travelling backwards.

http://izreloaded.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/reason-why-planes-fly-inverted-national.html

So it is always drawn with the flag pole towards the front of the plane. So on the right (starboard) side the flag always looks reversed.

ChrispenEvan said:

it looks the right way round in the rearview mirror of the plane in front.

This :)

Speedy said:

ChrispenEvan said:

it looks the right way round in the rearview mirror of the plane in front.

This :)

glad someone appreciates my alt-facts.

ChrispenEvan said:

Speedy said:

ChrispenEvan said:

it looks the right way round in the rearview mirror of the plane in front.

This :)

glad someone appreciates my alt-facts.

You have observed the word ECNALUBMA in your rear view mirror then?