Optical Illusion - or a Teaching Aid?
19th April 2025
Have you ever thought about what happens to operational aircraft when they reach their end of life, or become redundant for future operations? Some are cannibalised, yielding a viable and economical source of spare parts for similar aircraft still in service. While others fly to airfields with spare capacity to await their turn for the dismantling teams. Here today and gone tomorrow. Yes, that is sad, but true.
My pictures of a decorated nose of a former civil airliner, was awaiting its turn for dismantlement. Yet, before its demise, it became the canvas for a group of art college students to demonstrate their versatility and imagination. Hence the confusion of styles and content.
I particularly liked the imaginative depiction of the pilot, notwithstanding his misplaced location below the pilot's actual seat. Perhaps he's in the cargo hold which now accommodates a flight simulator. Any more suggestions?
My pictures were captured on a Leica M9 fitted with a Leica 50mm Summilux and a Leica 28mm aspherical lenses. I also took pictures of the entire aircraft, but felt the decorated nose section conveyed my interpretation of its end of fitness to fly, more clearly.
There was a more complete story on this theme at this location, with the rare sight of airliners from many foreign countries. Unfortunately, it was not within easy reach and I had other commitments at the time. I was attending a one-off open day for the public, with a special flying display. So it was a lucky bonus really, captured on my rangefinder camera of the time. It just shows that unusual picture opportunities arise in less obvious places.
Please leave a comment with your interpretation of this unusual livery.
(Copyright text and pictures David Askham)
My pictures of a decorated nose of a former civil airliner, was awaiting its turn for dismantlement. Yet, before its demise, it became the canvas for a group of art college students to demonstrate their versatility and imagination. Hence the confusion of styles and content.
I particularly liked the imaginative depiction of the pilot, notwithstanding his misplaced location below the pilot's actual seat. Perhaps he's in the cargo hold which now accommodates a flight simulator. Any more suggestions?
My pictures were captured on a Leica M9 fitted with a Leica 50mm Summilux and a Leica 28mm aspherical lenses. I also took pictures of the entire aircraft, but felt the decorated nose section conveyed my interpretation of its end of fitness to fly, more clearly.
There was a more complete story on this theme at this location, with the rare sight of airliners from many foreign countries. Unfortunately, it was not within easy reach and I had other commitments at the time. I was attending a one-off open day for the public, with a special flying display. So it was a lucky bonus really, captured on my rangefinder camera of the time. It just shows that unusual picture opportunities arise in less obvious places.
Please leave a comment with your interpretation of this unusual livery.
(Copyright text and pictures David Askham)