The ‘victory plane’ artwork that flew South Africa’s Springboks all over the country in the midst of World Cup celebrations and Bok-Fever was designed by a matric student with a dream to take to the skies!
South Africa (14 November 2023) — You’d be forgiven for thinking that the ‘victory plane’ carrying South Africa’s Springboks all over the country on their tour as Rugby World Cup champions was designed by someone with years of experience in aviation art.
But, the real story behind the ‘victory plane’ and its makeover is a lot more heartwarming.
The story begins in 2021 when a young Taariq Hendricks from Pinelands decides to let his creative juices flow. He had been inspired by the 2019, Rugby World Cup-focused, ‘Does Green and Gold Clash with our Colours’ video and challenge, posed by FlySafair.
Taariq, who was just 16 years old then, took it upon himself to use an aeroplane template to create a design of his own. As an aviation enthusiast and someone who dreams of becoming a pilot (to the point where a reward for good marks has been a trip to the airport to watch the planes), this challenge was right up his alley.
The design he created was largely for himself, but when someone on an aviation enthusiast forum inspired Taariq to share his design, things really took off.
It was from this forum that his design soon became a big hit, and caught the attention of none other than FlySafair’s CEO, Elmar Conradie.
Taariq was contacted for the use of his design for a real-life plane, not knowing then that it would house the honour of flying the Boks and their victory in yet another chapter of World Cup success, across South Africa.
Now at 18 years old, the young man who dreams of becoming a pilot and is currently focused on his Private Pilot’s License, gets to say that he designed the artwork of one of the most historic aircrafts of all time.
We can’t wait to see his dreams take off; his story also goes to show that you never know what might come of being bold and putting your ideas out there, no matter your age.