May 21, 2006 But Is It Art?

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By Russ Niles, Newswriter, Editor

We like aviation art as much as anyone but we suspect an Italian artist's interpretation of the term could be questionable in the minds of some. Paolo Pivi borrowed an apparently well-used Westland Wessex helicopter and had it placed, greasy side up, in a public square in Salzburg, Austria. The 9,000-pound helicopter comes from what The Helicopter Museum in Somerset, England, calls its "reserve collection" and is a complete aircraft. It will be flopped upside-down on the square until the end of July. At least Pivi didn't stretch too far in naming his "art." He's calling it Upside Down Helicopter In A Public Place. We are having a little trouble nailing down his inspiration for the work, however. It's apparently part of the 200th anniversary celebrations for the composer Mozart. ... An AVweb cap for anyone who can make sense out of that one.