While Star Wars fans were glued to their computer screens dissecting the latest Force Awakens teaser trailer, a Japanese airline was making aviation history.
Amid all the buzz over a galaxy far, far away, All Nippon Airways unveiled a Boeing 787 jet intricately painted to resemble R2-D2 on Thursday. The design is a natural fit since the iconic droid shares the same cylindrical proportions as the nose of an airliner.
According to the airline's press release, the plane is also a milestone for commercial flight: "This marks the first time a Star Wars character will appear on the exterior of a commercial aircraft," the company claims.
And the R2-D2 jet is only the beginning. The airline says the new airplane marks the start of a five-year project, which may or may not include more Star Wars-themed aircraft.
The jet is to fly international routes starting this fall, but unlike R2-D2, it's unlikely to soar beyond the stratosphere.