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When a private jet rolled out of Duncan Aviation's Provo, Utah, paint hangar, it did so with a sleek new look that turns heads and tells a story. The design, created by Duncan Aviation Senior Lead Designer Molly Pfeiffer and brought to life by Paint Layout Technician III Sadie Jones, carries on the owner's tradition of incorporating shark fins into his fleet—this time in a bold and realistic way.
From Concept to Realism
Early concepts leaned toward cartoon-like fins and even wild ideas with ocean scenes wrapping around the fuselage. Ultimately, simplicity won out with a striking shark fin and waves featured on the tail and winglets. The final effect, however, is anything but simple.
Pfeiffer worked with Jones to explore the concept of a more realistic fin. To bring the idea to life, Jones created a mockup panel featuring textured waves and a lifelike fin breaking through the water. The owner was so impressed that he requested to keep the panel as a memento for his office.
"On a practice panel, I worked out everything in terms of size, shape, colors, and techniques to bring the fin and water to life," said Jones. "That preparation made the process run smoothly."
The first rendering of the shark fin looked pixelated and cartoon-like, but Jones turned that into an advantage.
"The pixelated design made it easy to see the dark and light values in the fin and water, which helped me make them look realistic," she explained. "I figured out the shades I needed and blended the colors so they transitioned seamlessly. I was very happy with the final result. It could not have gone any better."
Telling the Shark's Story
The approved design features a Matterhorn White base with rich ocean blues. The flowing stripes were adjusted on-site during the layout process to ensure the waves seamlessly transition onto the tail, giving the impression of a shark slicing through water. Both winglets carry smaller-scale shark fins, positioned so passengers can view them directly from the cabin windows—subtle touches that make the experience personal and memorable.
What began as a playful idea evolved into a polished design that merges creativity, precision, and storytelling. Pfeiffer's research into shark proportions and natural water ripples ensured the look was true to life, while the Paint team's artisanship turned renderings into reality.
