By AFP
Artist Tracey Emin unveiled Tuesday the first of nine British Airways planes specially painted to look like golden doves to mark the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The exterior designs were done by artist-designer Pascal Anson, who was mentored by Emin.
The first “Dove” — an Airbus A319 — has been painted with gold strokes to represent the feathers.
The cockpit has been resprayed to look like a beak, with the body, wings and tail also getting a makeover.
Emin and Anson unveiled the new design in a hanger at London’s Heathrow Airport.
“The first time I saw Pascal’s design, it made me smile. The plane is universal. Everyone will understand it,” Emin said.
“I like the way it brings back the excitement of travel too. I will constantly be looking up every time I hear a plane fly over. You never know, maybe I will turn into a plane-spotter.”
British Airways also announced two other Olympics-inspired projects celebrating creative British talent.
Menus on BA’s long-haul flights over the coming months will be inspired by earlier menus going back to 1948 — the last time the Games were held in London.
Top chef Heston Blumenthal has worked on the project.
The other, a nine-minute film entitled “Boy”, was being premiered on flights on Tuesday.
The film tells the story of a carpenter who maintains the track at the Velodrome on the Olympic Park. The imminence of the Games forces him to deal with the loss of his son, a track cyclist.
