Heathrow Airport today unveiled the huge sculpture that will welcome passengers as they enter Terminal 2 when it opens on June 4.
Created by artist Richard Wilson, Slipstream hangs from the entrance courtyard in the new terminal.
It was shown for ther first time as Heathrow development director John Holland-Kaye revealed that the Queen will officially open the new terminal on June 23, some 59 years after she opened the original terminal.
Measuring 76 metres in length and with an aluminium outer body, Slipstream is longer than an A380 aircraft.
It is designed to represent "the shape a stunt plane would carve through space, starting as an abstract volume and becoming recognisable at its furthermost point".
The £2.5 billion facility will open in stages from June 4. That day, the first flight into the terminal will be operated by United Airlines — flight UA958 from Chicago is scheduled to land at 0555.
United will have sole operation of the terminal for two weeks until fellow Star Alliance carrier Air Canada joins it on June 18.
The other Star Alliance airlines will then move over in stages, with all 23 in place by the end of October, the start of the winter season.
Graham Smith
