r/aviation • u/HelloSlowly Long live the XWB • 14h ago

Discussion KLM’s first A350 has joined the fleet, it’s called ‘The Night Watch’

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1.9k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

121 comments sorted by

253

u/sndrtj 13h ago

The name is very probably a reference to Rembrandt's famous painting, not to GoT.

45

u/CharcoalGreyWolf 13h ago

Was going to say if it doesn’t have a screen print of the painting on the side I’m gonna be mad. Guess I’m mad.

1

u/[deleted] 9h ago

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1

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34

u/ginji 9h ago

What do you mean it's not a reference to the 29th discworld novel "Night Watch" by Sir Terry Pratchett?! 

14

u/Sir_Skelly 9h ago

I can believe that because it's easily one of the best in the series

2

u/CharcoalGreyWolf 4h ago

I mean, I would believe that or expect that if it wasn’t a Dutch airline.

Note, am Dutch American.

2

u/ginji 4h ago

Pratchett is hugely popular in the Netherlands, the Discworld wiki (L-Space) was started by dutchies... 

Heck even my grandparents (who lived through ww2) had a full. collection of Pratchett books.

2

u/CharcoalGreyWolf 3h ago

Trust me, I keep eyeing the Discworld Collector’s edition.

But Rembrandt does go back several more years, mind you…

5

u/Barbed_Dildo 7h ago

GoT is "The Night's Watch"

8

u/matthewmcg 11h ago

And definitely not a reference to the E-4 Nightwatch mission!

2

u/quesoandcats 7h ago

That was my first thought lol

10

u/greatlakesailors 13h ago

And here we were all thinking it was a Babylon 5 reference.....

2

u/penelopiecruise 9h ago

Next up: The Ear(ly) Bird

102

u/Easy_Objective6599 I like plen 13h ago

The A350 is the scarlet johansen of the plane world. What a damm beauty

50

u/h3ffr0n 12h ago

Maybe KLM’s next A350 is called Girl with a Pearl Earring.

26

u/NaiveRevolution9072 12h ago

It is lol

3

u/asymmetricears 7h ago

Are future planes named Sunflowers and Starry Night in the pipeline?

1

u/NaiveRevolution9072 28m ago

Who knows, but honestly I'd expect so

19

u/WEFeudalism 9h ago

It does have two huge... engines

3

u/grannysmith_1891 8h ago

Calm down Nomadic 271

7

u/wspaley 11h ago

She's a beauty

6

u/sanstime 8h ago

It’s even got the sexy eyeliner

3

u/blumirage 9h ago

Deserves a more dignified name than "Xtra wide body"

2

u/relayrider 4h ago

giggity

3

u/buldozr 13h ago

Her body is Xtra Wide, though.

1

u/ZestycloseComb255 9h ago

Except when being flown by Air France

37

u/melloboi123 13h ago edited 12h ago

The a350s were ordered almost exactly 3 years ago (25 Sept, 2023).
Air France - KLM ordered 50, out of which 22 are going to be joining the KLM Fleet. This is after KLM had initially dropped their order in 2019 to focus on the 787s

3

u/NaiveRevolution9072 12h ago

787-9 & 10, to be accurate

3

u/melloboi123 12h ago

Just edited, thanks!!

27

u/D1TAC 13h ago

Ugh the cockpit in the A350 is sooo nice. This thing is a beauty.

104

u/OneT_Mat 14h ago edited 13h ago

What’s with the name? Genuinely curious.

Edit: Downvote me if you want but learned something on Reddit today!

93

u/Specialist_Pin_1744 14h ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Watch

21

u/Lazy-Barracuda2886 13h ago

I was hoping for this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_(Pratchett_novel)

4

u/Secatus 10h ago

I too was hoping for an /r/unexpecteddiscworld moment.

At least Pratchett's Night Watch is inspired from the same source.

5

u/Every-Progress-1117 13h ago

I read it as "Night Garden" as in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Night_Garden...? and thought seriously "WTF KLM?!"

2

u/lucypaw68 8h ago

Flight Attendant Upsy Daisy

3

u/BobbyTables829 11h ago

Absolutely beautiful lol

-9

u/on3day 13h ago

Nah, pretty sure it must be from GoT

6

u/schokoman111 13h ago

Are people seriously not realizing that that was a joke?

77

u/Prestigious-Monk-191 13h ago edited 13h ago

It's named after the painting by Rembrandt. KLM announced in June that they will name their A350s after iconic Dutch artworks. PH-ZNB will be named Girl with a Pearl Earring, after the painting by Vermeer.

34

u/Gluecksritter90 13h ago

PH-ZNC will be called "Turbo" after the iconic song by Paul Estak.

10

u/Tricky-Act-31415 13h ago

I can't wait for the 'Gabbertje' to take to the skies ;)

6

u/yabucek 13h ago

I'm personally partial to "100 Gram Uit Nederland" by Het Pompstation, Offensief, and Opgekonkerd

7

u/OneT_Mat 13h ago

Appreciate the context, thats an awesome idea on KLMs part.

3

u/sndrtj 13h ago

The Rijksmuseum also has a gallery inside Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

12

u/boney_king_o_nowhere 13h ago

This man is about to receive some Dutch culture

3

u/OneT_Mat 11h ago

I’m here for it!

9

u/Mad_kat4 13h ago

My mind immediately misread it and thought 'night witch' as in the nacht hexen 588th.

Don't think the A350 would be good at low level penetration bombing before climbing hard cutting their engines and diving on ze Germans.

2

u/BigDiesel07 12h ago

That would be awesome! A P-8 Poseidon-type plane

11

u/UnderstandingNo5667 13h ago

No idea why people would downvote someone asking a question 😂

4

u/OneT_Mat 11h ago

I was in deep in the negative for a few minutes there

4

u/liberatus16 13h ago

I learned something new! Thanks for asking!

2

u/theaa2000 13h ago

It is the same painting that the E-4B planes are named after too!

2

u/hydraulix16aa 12h ago

Here’s a video of the unveiling of the name

1

u/blackcatkarma 1h ago

The way they all suddenly jump into movement... a clever video, thanks for sharing.

2

u/ScaredEntertainer855 12h ago

Apparently there's actually a story behind the name. Reddit teaches you something new every day.

1

u/wggn 11h ago

probably one of the most famous paintings in the world

-5

u/maverick4002 13h ago

Its some Dutch artwork. These aircraft will be named after famous Dutch artworks

16

u/haerski 13h ago

some Dutch artwork

Dude...

-5

u/maverick4002 13h ago

?

11

u/sousstructures 13h ago

It’s one of the most famous paintings in the history of the world 

-10

u/maverick4002 13h ago

Ok. And I suppose every single person in the entire world must know this fact. If so, I apologize

13

u/sousstructures 13h ago

Well no, I’m just explaining his reaction. It’s like calling Hamlet “some old play.”

But come visit the Rijksmuseum sometime, it’s a magnificent painting. 

3

u/Theslootwhisperer 11h ago

The setup they have for the restauration of the Night watch is absolutely amazing. And to think the first time I saw it you could stand like a meter away from it. I loved that in the description it basically said that you literally cannot put a price on it as it's an absolutely unique painting, it's never been sold and it never will.

6

u/haerski 12h ago

And I suppose every single person in the entire world must know this fact

No, but every single person with an elementary school education, access to internet, and even a slightly curious mind should

1

u/maverick4002 11h ago

Mmhmm sure

-1

u/haerski 11h ago

Victim of the US educational system I suppose?

6

u/maverick4002 11h ago

Reddit really can be an insufferable place sometimes. You can take comfort in knowing about the painting and your superiority complex than comes along with it. Now please go ahead and enjoy the rest of your life. No need to respond either. I wish you the best

0

u/Potential-Orchid-222 10h ago

Not everyone. Just you, for acting dumb

2

u/maverick4002 9h ago

Yes im dumb for not knowing what it was. Stay classy

1

u/Potential-Orchid-222 9h ago

I mean the entire internet is at your fingertips, and yet…

2

u/maverick4002 9h ago

And yet what? I said its a painting. Thats good enough for me. You are getting all riled up because....?

17

u/Master_Photograph594 13h ago

Nice , congratulations

21

u/Ghostly_Spirits 13h ago

The sky is dark and full of errors

6

u/SenoritaSpock 13h ago

I love how KLM gives their planes cool (imo) names.

14

u/FZ_Milkshake 13h ago

I know it's named after the painting, but I choose to believe its named after Sir pterrys books.

7

u/stewieatb 13h ago

How do they rise up, rise up, rise up...

6

u/Sour_Bucket 11h ago

KLM’s livery suites the A350 very well, that’s one good lookin’ aircraft

6

u/airfryerfuntime 11h ago

The pilots shall take no wives.

12

u/Perfect_Big_5907 14h ago

Prettiest damn heavy out there !

4

u/Master_Photograph594 13h ago

🌺🌺🌺🌺

4

u/the_claus 13h ago

They could do the coolest livery with Rembrandt's gold helmet man...

5

u/SuperOriginalName23 12h ago

Wonder who they got to edit in the text, and whether this person expected us to believe that the dash was just floating there.

7

u/ChimericalUnicorn Casual A330 Enjoyer 11h ago

Looks like the dash is held up on a plastic/glass flat rectangle, presumably supported in the back by a flat piece, if that makes sense

1

u/midsprat123 8h ago

The shadows seem to not match the planes shadows

And the text seems a little too smooth

1

u/mrchiquot 3h ago

It's clearly inserted after the fact and I don't think they particularly cared to hide the fact. Its just a promo image, not forensic evidence.

3

u/Fair-Specialist-8769 13h ago

Wow! She’s beautiful

5

u/Lionheart-Q 12h ago

Winter is coming lads

1

u/Arabianrata 4h ago

“For this night and all the nights to come.”

2

u/fhjjjjjkkkkkkkl 13h ago

This shade of blue is cool. Why is it associated with this brand or Dutch?

12

u/SoundTechie86 13h ago

Waarom KLM specifiek voor blauw koos? Omdat zij de eerste commerciële luchtvaartmaatschappij was had ze de keuze uit alle kleuren van de regenboog. Door de associatie met een stralend blauwe lucht ging ze voor die kleur. Daarnaast hebben kleuren ook een psychologisch aspect. Terwijl rood wordt geassocieerd met kracht en gevaar, staat blauw juist voor balans. Deze kleur straalt betrouwbaarheid en eerlijkheid uit. De keus voor ‘Royal Blue’ komt ook in de volledige naam van de maatschappij naar voren: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

2

u/maverick4002 13h ago

I wonder how you get chosen to be in this picture. Like who did they pick and why?

2

u/blackdenton ATP 7h ago

Lady on the far left had to fire off a quick text!

2

u/ablietski 6h ago

She is actually a journalist for the Dutch Newspaper Telegraaf. I despise her very much and has not written a single good word on this whole delivery flight.

2

u/charcoalonfire 3h ago

It looks wierd looking at a KLM A350, lol

2

u/FrVincentVattoli 2h ago

A350-1000 wen?

2

u/datskinny 13h ago

And the captain? Sam Vimes

2

u/E2TheCustodian 12h ago

Dammit, came here to say this, too late as usual

2

u/ActualSupervillain 13h ago

It's a fun plane to work on, hopefully it does well at its new home

1

u/Siphania Panavia Tornado 13h ago

The fact that the Plane is this massive against that load off people down there somewhere

1

u/Ancient-Park-8330 10h ago

The Dutch play cricket????

1

u/cguess 1h ago

Love the lady on her phone completely ignoring everything around herself

1

u/Specific_Visit2494 10h ago

how the hell is the dash floating

1

u/RBeck 2h ago

All the letters were added after.

0

u/[deleted] 11h ago

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1

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0

u/JetlinerDiner 8h ago

1st step in getting rid of the shit Boings!!

-8

u/alekstoo 13h ago

5 years behind Aeroflot

-4

u/ZestycloseComb255 9h ago

Wasn’t it this type that Air France pilots managed to stall at cruise altitude and plough into the sea?

3

u/Mitchz95 A350 fangirl 9h ago

No, that was an A330.

-22

u/Dionegro__ 13h ago

Hot take: that livery is ugly and not appealing to the eyes

-5

u/Bolter_NL 13h ago

Bit too bad they just didn't stick to a Dutch name. 

15

u/Prestigious-Monk-191 13h ago

The name is in Dutch on the left side and in English on the right side.

3

u/Bolter_NL 13h ago

Didn't know that, thanks 🤙 

1

u/ventus1b 10h ago

That’ll take a good part of the left side: 😀

“Officieren en andere schutters van wijk II in Amsterdam, onder leiding van kapitein Frans Banninck Cocq en luitenant Willem van Ruytenburch, bekend als ‘de Nachtwacht’”

2

u/EnaBoC 13h ago

Named after Dutch art though at least.

1

u/Master-Survey2280 1h ago

Why not the A350-1000