Recent trailers for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug have given us glimpses of the titular dragon (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who rules over the lost Dwarven kingdom of Erebor and all of its treasures.  Warner Bros. has kept him off their 29 posters for the film thus far, and now he's been revealed in an unlikely format: the side of an airplane.  Air New Zealand has plastered the beast on the side of their Boeing 777-300ER, and as far as reveals go, it's not bad.  I'm surprised there's not more of this kind of partnership between airlines and movie studios when it comes to flying creatures.  This plane is going to scare the shit out of the people of Esgaroth.

Hit the jump to see the plane being painted.  The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens December 13th.

Via Air New Zealand.

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