TWO British Spitfire fighter planes have been given new life as sculptures to honour Czech RAF pilots during WW2.
The two planes are on display on the exterior walls of Prague’s Máj Národní building and were designed by renowned artist David Cerný.
The planes – which have had butterfly wings added to their cockpits – pay tribute to the Czech pilots who fought with the RAF in the Second World War and according to ?erný, symbolise the balance between conflict and peace.
The two immense sculptures on the outside of the department store were spotted by a Brit holidaymaker yesterday who was out and about in the Czech capital.
His images show the two purple and blue WW2 era fighter planes and their impressive and beautiful modifications.
The inactive fighters are perched on the outside of the large department store, stuck to the exterior walls.
One of the planes has its large, ornate butterfly wings spread wide open while the other holds them closed over the cockpit.
The Brit abroad was amazed by the impressive sculptures and wanted to share their beauty with others.
David ?erný, the artist behind the sculptures, said the butterfly symbolises peace and the Spitfire symbolises freedom from struggle in his mind, hence the choice to meld the two.
The impressive modified planes are several metres tall and have a reported wingspan of around eight metres.
More than just static sculptures, the two planes also glow in the dark and flap their wings on occasion.
The images captured by the holidaying Brit were shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “Spitfire plane with butterfly wings. A tribute to Czech RAF pilots in WWII.
“How beautiful.”
The post has since received over 90 likes and several comments from fellow Brits left in awe by the impressive sculptures.
One user said: “That’s truly touching.”
Another wrote: “I was on holiday there when they were putting that up in May. Big a** crane.”
A third added: “I’m a little confused by this mix. All up for celebrating the Czech fighters, but a butterfly seems a slightly odd choice.
“Is it an allusion to the fragility of a butterfly rather than the beauty?”
Another commented: “Attached to World War II fighter models, ?erný says his goal is to show the balance between conflict and peace.”
