A Dutch artist has paid a rather unusual tribute to his dead cat Orville – by turning the animal into a flying machine. Bart Jansen teamed up with radio control helicopter pilot Arjen Beltman to create a special flying mechanism for the pet, who died recently after being run over by a car. Dubbed ‘the Orvillecopter’, the result of their collaboration was exhibited in an Amsterdam gallery as part of the Kunstrai art festival. Propellers have been attached to each of the stuffed cat’s four paws, enabling him to fly across rooms at the touch of a remote control. Jansen has insisted that the project is a respectful and appropriate way of honouring his beloved cat, who was named after American aviation pioneer Orville Wright. “After a period of mourning he received his propellers posthumously,” the artist said. However, it seems that the machine is not yet the finished article and Jansen has pledged to make improvements to the design, as the Orvillecopter cannot yet fly without interruptions. “He will receive more powerful engines and larger props for his birthday. So this hopping will soon change into steady flight,” he explained.
