The special British Airways Airbus A319 (pictured above) is one of nine golden dove planes that will fly during this summer's Games and be in service around Europe throughout the next year.

Pascal Anson, a designer and artist born in South London, won a special British Airways competition to work alongside legendary British artist Tracey Emin to create the look (pictured below).

The plane was unveiled by the pair after a team of 24 people took eight days to spray-paint the aircraft white, with gold strokes to represent feathers.

"The first time I saw Pascal's design it made me smile," said Emin, who is widely considered as one of Britain's greatest modern artists.

"I will constantly be looking up every time I hear a plane fly over.

"The plane is universal.

"Everyone will understand it."


The design uses the cockpit as a beak, the fuselage and wings as the main body and the tailfin as a tail.

The dove has become something of an Olympic emblem having featured regularly at the Games' Opening Ceremony, notably the last time the Olympic Games came to London in 1948.

"The dove signifies a positive message wherever you go in the world," said Anson, who studied at the Royal College of Art in London.

"I also hope it makes people stop, think and look twice."

The "dove plane" is one of several Olympic-themed projects from British Airways under the Great Britons banner, an initiative designed to celebrate British creative talent.

Others include high-profile chef Heston Blumenthal working with colleague Simon Hulstone to develop in-flight meals inspired by traditional British cookery and actor Richard E Grant co-scripting a short film with writer Prasanna Puwanarajah to be shown on British Airways flights.

All three projects will be showcased at an aviation-themed pop-up restaurant, gallery and cinema in London from tomorrow until April 17.

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