Journey Took Four Months, Crossed 30 Countries

A pair of British Pilots have completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth in a restored Spitfire.

On December 5th, The Silver Spitfire Longest Flight expedition came to a triumphant end as friends, family, colleagues, and hundreds of fans welcomed G-IRTY home to a frosty Goodwood Aerodrome. Escorted by two of the Red Arrows Display Team, The Silver Spitfire and the PC-12 support aircraft flew across the English Channel and over the White Cliffs before making it home safely. It was an emotional moment for all the crew and those who had turned out to show their support.

The circumnavigation took four months to complete. Pilots Steve Brooks, 58, from Burford, Oxfordshire, and Matt Jones, 45, from Exeter, Devon made stops in 100 locations in 30 countries, according to a report appearing on the Forces Network blog.

The flight originated and finished at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex. The airport is the base of Boultbee Flight Academy and the first-ever school for Spitfire pilots.

The airplane was first built in 1943. It was followed by a PC-12 chase plane on a route that crossed Scotland, the U.S., Canada, Japan, Russia, India, Europe and then back to Britain.

(Source: Silver Spitfire website and as cited. Image provided courtesy of Tom Shaw/Stamp Productions)

FMI: Source repor
www.silverspitfire.com