PROJECT Frigate Bird II

DESIGNER | ARTIST Rise Pacific

LOCATION Ultimo, NSW

The Catalina flying boat Frigate Bird II is a piece of living Australian history and has been the centre of the Powerhouse Museum transport exhibition for more than 30 years hanging, high from the roof of the Boiler Hall. Part of the museum upgrade included a plan to bring the Catalina down close to ground level to allow the public much closer viewing from a completely different perspective. Partridge engineers, together with the installation team at Rise Pacific, designed a steel suspension frame and cable system to lower the plane to be suspended just above the ground, with all supports from the existing roof structure only, both through the temporary stages and in its final position. The project required a careful and concise analysis of loads, and detailed project coordination to ensure the needs of both museum curators and installation contractors were met, and to guarantee the safety of the public and structural integrity of the roof.

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