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London 2012: British Airways And Tracey Emin Unveil Olympic Inspired Aircraft 'The Dove'

Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 3/04/2012 08:22 Updated: 3/04/2012 12:11

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Artist Tracey Emin has unveiled British Airways' Olympic-inspired aircraft, 'The Dove'.

The plane, which will fly thousands of passengers during the London 2012 Games was created by artist-designer Pascal Anson, 38 from Brighton, who was mentored by Emin.

The white A319 aircraft, with gold trim and a "feather" effect, was exclusively revealed this morning, and will go into service tomorrow.

Emin told Sky News: "It's very simple, it's a bird, it's a dove. It's a symbol of peace, it's a symbol of the Olympics."

She added: "I think it looks quite fluffy and cute."


Emin and Anson stand proudly in front of The Dove at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday morning

BA has also unveiled its new Olympic and Paralympic Games-inspired menus, created by Simon Hulstone, under the mentorship of Michelin-star chef Heston Blumenthal.

Simon’s dishes take inspiration from the airline’s menus dating back to 1948 – the last time the Games were held in London.

Blumenthal, said: “Simon has created an exciting, delicious and well-balanced menu that pays homage to the Games in a clever and subtle way.

"The dishes celebrate our rich history and British talent at its best. As a mentor, chef and friend I’m very proud of what he has achieved."

Simon has created four menus, which will be available on long-haul flights from London Heathrow from July in; First, Club, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins.

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'The Dove', British Airways Olympic Inspired aircraft which will be in operation during the London 2012 Games and was designed by artist Designer Pascal Anson from Brighton, who has been mentored by Tracy Emin.
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Artist Tracey Emin has unveiled British Airways' Olympic-inspired aircraft, 'The Dove'. The plane, which will fly thousands of passengers during the London 2012 Games was created by artist-designe...
Artist Tracey Emin has unveiled British Airways' Olympic-inspired aircraft, 'The Dove'. The plane, which will fly thousands of passengers during the London 2012 Games was created by artist-designe...
 
 
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Mad Mick
85 Fans
04:41 PM on 04/04/2012
What does Lady Thatcher think?
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claude raven
6 Fans
12:26 PM on 04/04/2012
What a waste of time and money. Better if BA returned to the dignified and attractive livery that BOAC used to use. and concentrated solely on its base business - flyiong passengers not promoting events.
Permalink  |
Colingregory
11 Fans
10:54 AM on 04/04/2012
oh dear !!! not more tribal markings on our carrier.
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Princessdragon
16 Fans
06:11 AM on 04/04/2012
Love the idea of a Dove but in this case It doesn't really smack you in the eye, just has not got the wow factor and doesn't even look British. Shame
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tickeli
29 Fans
05:17 AM on 04/04/2012
What a wasted opportunity, we could have created a bunch of talented new designers/ chefs. Spread the money around instead of paying those who already have it.
Stella MacCartney designed the athletes trackside wear,
Tracey Emin, a Plane
Simon Blumenthal a menu. Don't you just love how they say the food pays homage to the games. I can hear passengers commending ...
"Wow this food's taste has definitely been inspired by the 1948 Games, It is paying so much homage to them, I can feel it in my taste buds."
Permalink  |
GearoidOD
66 Fans
10:35 AM on 04/04/2012
That was my reaction too but on rereading the article, Emin and Blumenthal only ' mentored' the designers - whatever that means ! They didnt actaully create the designs - although talking about ' creating' a menu is being a bit liberal with the word.
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tickeli
29 Fans
11:33 AM on 04/04/2012
I bet I know who got the fee.
Permalink  |
tickeli
29 Fans
04:59 AM on 04/04/2012
Emin told Sky News: "It's very simple, it's a bird, it's a dove. It's a symbol of peace, it's a symbol of the Olympics...."
...most importantly it cost BA a lot of money!
Permalink  |
GearoidOD
66 Fans
11:18 PM on 04/03/2012
I suspect what BA customers really want is for BA to be able to keep its planes flying in winter and not wating its time on the two week Olympics !
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Phytoresearcher
77 Fans
06:05 AM on 04/04/2012
I flew into Heathrow two weeks ago. The immigration queue for non EU visitors was 3 hours long, and most of the passengers with onward connections missed their flights. The domestic queue was not much shorter. Does anyone believe that a Chinese or Brazilian or American visitor will bother to visit London for the Olympics if he or she must endure this insanity? On my last trip to Asia the waiting times for immigration to enter Singapore --10 minutes, Shanghai - less than 10 min., Tokyo - 15 minutes because several planes had just landed at abut the same time, NY 30 minutes and a rude reception.
Permalink  |
jandmeu
1 Fans
08:08 AM on 04/04/2012
Totally agree. I have lived here for 46 years, my wife (english) and I (Aussie) returned from a family trip home. What an absolute fiasco. She took about two hours through Passport control, me? ten minutes. Hoever, flying out (last time ever with BA) it took just three hours to check in, then another 1 hour through security?pasport control. never again. what an absolute shambles. rude arrogant staf everywere. Singaporeair for us now every time.
Permalink  |
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
92 Fans
 
10:44 PM on 04/03/2012
Who designed this monstrocity? Damian Hirst or Tracy Emin?
Permalink  |
GearoidOD
66 Fans
10:36 AM on 04/04/2012
Neither - they were only the 'mentors' whatever that means - apart fron the opportunity to get publicity.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
92 Fans
 
12:29 PM on 04/04/2012
sounds about right.
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goldensounds
13 Fans
09:21 PM on 04/03/2012
Another day another Olympics fiasco. No wonder Britons in their hundreds of thousands are making plans to go abroad during the Games, especially people like me who live in London.
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alanfinddlay1
81 Fans
09:01 PM on 04/03/2012
Cannot see the connection. looks more like the plane flew through a lot of muck.
Permalink  |
GearoidOD
66 Fans
08:57 PM on 04/03/2012
I am puzzled by the idea of designing menus for olympic athletes especially basing them on 1948 menus ?????? Athletes competing at a major competition will want to stick to tried and tested foods that they have been using in the pre olymic period.
Permalink  |
gdedion
6 Fans
12:57 AM on 04/04/2012
It is generally accepted that wartime and post-war diets were very healthy, even with the shortages and rationing. Most people did not run cars and cycling and walking were more popular than now. Anyway what is wrong with 6 penny worth of fish and chips wrapped in the Sun newspaper?
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tickeli
29 Fans
05:01 AM on 04/04/2012
"Anyway what is wrong with 6 penny worth of fish and chips wrapped in the Sun newspaper?"
Answer: The Sun, and it's not a newspaper.
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GearoidOD
66 Fans
08:54 PM on 04/03/2012
I suspect the average person seeing on an airport apron will not even realise it is a british plane !
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Valksy
civis mundi sum
1252 Fans
08:01 PM on 04/03/2012
More wasted money.

But at least it isn't as wretched as the official logo (did anyone else look at that 2012 logo and immediately think "Tiswas" from the 1970s?)
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Reality always bites
Sometimes just a bit peckish
234 Fans
07:07 PM on 04/03/2012
Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
It is not superman-but even he had red and blue in his colours!
I much prefer the standard BA colours as representative of the country and the olympics!
Permalink  |
jpgardiner
1 Fans
06:51 PM on 04/03/2012
As someone who entered the BA Great Britons competition with my own design and vision, I'm glad to see what is a frankly brilliant design, which reflects the Olympic spirit in what I'd describe a subtle manner, which is exactly what I love so much about this livery. I'm not a fan of 'in your face' art, or so to speak, where the message is so obvious you don't have the opportunity to stand back, and appreciate exactly what it is is being portrayed. I think this design also, which is important considering this is British Airways, displays a sense of classiness; the use of only two main colours, white and gold, and these colours themselves, give the aircraft a clean, sophisticated feel, which is exactly what was intended when the breif was set. To me, this design is simply brilliant.
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king53
30 Fans
07:59 PM on 04/03/2012
Should have gone to Spec-savers. If Emin reads your comment, she will thing she is talented.
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jpgardiner
1 Fans
08:35 PM on 04/03/2012
The best you can do is repeat what is now a terribly cliche phrase?
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GearoidOD
66 Fans
08:59 PM on 04/03/2012
Just out of curioisity, do you not think it is athletes who best know what repesents the Olympic spirit ? i mean athletes and competition are what it is about, not artists and designers !
Permalink  |
jpgardiner
1 Fans
10:01 PM on 04/03/2012
Everyone's interpretation of something differs. I'm sure the athletes will have their own idea of what the Olympics means to them, however those who come to marvel at the games will most likely see something different. This livery is the artists interpretation of what the Olympics means to them. It may well be different to what the athletes feel, but a piece of art will never reflect everyone's point of view.
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