First World War ‘war birds’ will have their covers restored ready for display at the Australian War Memorial tomorrow.
A special team of French vintage aircraft experts will tomorrow make the ‘last stitch’ of their conservation work on rare First World War aircraft, or ’war birds’ as the aircraft are affectionately known. The war birds are progressively being ‘clothed’ as part of the restoration process, in preparation for the upcoming exhibition, Over the Front.
The most complex work is fitting new camouflage fabric to the German Albatros and Pfalz war birds, which are both over 90 years old. The specialist French conservators are teaching Australian War Memorial staff the use of original techniques and materials to recreate the original design faithfully over the coming months.
Opening at the Memorial in late 2008, Over the front will include five original First World War aircraft:
- Three Australian aircraft- Se5a; Avro 504K trainer and Airco DH9.
- Two rare German fighter planes – an Albatros and a Pfalz
