The initial design of aircrafts belonging to the carrier Thai Airways Company (fig.), which later became Thai Airways, consisted of  a thick blue stripe over a thinner white and red line, and headed by the head of the hongse (fig.).

This mythical swan has a red crown separated from the blue head by a thin white line. Hence, it represents both an elongated national flag and a highly stylized Golden Swan Royal Barge (fig.), known in Thai as Reua Phra Thihnang Suphanahong.

At the back there is a circle with the depiction of a Garuda (fig.), whilst the vertical stabilizer, i.e. the tailfin, has both a Thai flag and the word THAI in red painted on it.