Tag Archives: HS-TKF

Thai officially unveils the Suphannahong Royal Barge livery on HS-TKF

Thai Airways International made this announcement with photos:

Today (August 16, 2019), Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, President of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), presided over a sacred ceremony that was conducted by Phra Maha Raja Guru Bidhi Sri Visudhigun to bless the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery that commemorates the Royal Coronation Ceremony 2019. The ceremony was attended by THAI Management and staff at the THAI Technical Department, Don Mueang, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, THAI President, said that the Royal Coronation Ceremony 2019 was held on May 4, 2019, with celebrations to continue until 4 May 2020. THAI, as the national carrier under the Ministry of Transport, has organized activities to commemorate the Royal Coronation as an expression of loyalty and honor.

THAI received permission to paint the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft (HS-TKF), royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai.” The Royal Coronation Emblem will appear on THAI’s aircraft throughout the Coronation Year.

The Suphannahong Royal Barge, originally called “Si Suphannahong” or “Chai Suphannahong Royal Barge,” has been the King’s royal barge since the Ayutthaya era. The current Suphannahong Royal Barge was constructed by the royal command of King Rama V and was completed in the reign of King Rama VI. At the front or bow of the barge is a golden swan figurehead, the body or hull is the body of the swan etched in wood and decorated with gold leaf, mirrors, tassels, and engraved glass. The exterior of the barge was painted black, while the interior was painted red, with a throne in the middle of the barge for the monarch or royalty. The Royal Barge was 46.15 meters long, 3.17 meters wide, and 15 tons in weight. Furthermore, this Royal Barge will be used in the Royal Procession for travel along the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun Ratchavararam (Temple of Dawn) to present robes to Buddhist monks during this year’s annual Royal Kathin Ceremony in October 2019.

In 1999, THAI first painted the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery on its Boeing 747-400 aircraft royally bestowed the name “Haripunchai” on the auspicious occasion of the Sixth Cycle Birthday of King Rama IX. Therefore, the sacred ceremony is being held to bless the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery that is painted on THAI’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft that was royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai,” which will appear on the aircraft from August 2019 to 31 December 2022. This livery differs from the previous one, as there is a rowing team with oars raised symbolic of birds in flight. A sticker (decal) has been used in place of aircraft paint spray for a more realistic appearance.

THAI’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft, royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai,” is equipped with a total of 364 seats, 34 seats in Royal Silk Class and 330 seats in Economy Class. This aircraft will be operated on roundtrip flights from Bangkok-Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Sapporo to promote Thai culture worldwide through the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery.

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Thai brings back the Royal Barge special livery on HS-TKF

Thai Airways International has finished painting its Boeing 777-3D7 HS-TKF (msn 29214) in the Royal Barge special livery at Don Muang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok.

The aircraft is due to re-enter service shortly on Asian routes.

According to the airline;

“The Royal Barge Procession is indeed a grand pageantry, certainly Thailand’s most colorful and prestigious ceremony. As seen from afar, the Royal Barges in the procession make a splendid show, their gold-leaf figureheads jutting out into the wind, their bright red and orange coloured canopies amidships catching the rays of sunlight. But even more remarkable are these splendid vessels when seen up close.

The major barges, including the one that carries the king, are kept in a boathouse on Klong Noi, not far from where the canal empties into the Chao Phraya. In 1972, this old boathouse was renovated and became The National Museum of Royal Barges, under the direction of the Fine Arts Department. But this is no ordinary museum; it’s more like a workshop where teams of artists and artisans painstakingly tend the barges.

The most beautiful barge of them all, and the largest, is the King’s Suphannahong Royal Barge. With its golden swan figurehead, it is often referred to simply as the Golden Swan Barge; it first appeared in chronicles of the Ayutthaya period. She measures 49.17 metres long, 3.15 metres wide and weighs 15 tonnes. What comes as a surprise, among many surprises, is that she is hewed from a single tree, except for the figurehead of the golden swan, making it the largest dugout in the world.

Suphannahong requires a 77-man crew, all dressed in naval attire: 54 sturdy oarsmen and two steersmen, with two officers, one fore and another aft. In addition there is one standard bearer, one signalman, one chanter and several royal insignia bearers. When in motion on the river, the silver and gold paddles are raised in the air at the end of each stroke, controlled by a rhythm keeper who taps the butt of his silver spear on the deck in time with the chanting of ancient boat songs. The large ‘tassel’ which swings from the beak of the golden swan, according to tradition, signifies that the King is aboard the barge.

The second-most important in rank to the Supannahong is the Anekchatphutchong Royal Barge, first built during the rein of King Rama IV. The present one was launched in 1914. The third is the impressive Anantanagaraj Royal Barge, with its seven-headed Naga figurehead at the bow. The throne amidships is the Kanya type with masterful wood carvings trimmed in gold around the outline. It is used to carry the monastic robes and the elaborate floral offerings to the monks at Wat Arun. The Anantanakaraj, as well as the Suphannahong and the Anekchabuchong, is manned by 54 oarsmen and has a full complement of crew with officers, signalman and standard bearer.”

This special livery was previously worn by Boeing 747-4D7 HS-TGJ and HS-TGO and Airbus A330-322 HS-TEK.