Silver Spitfire Launch Day at Goodwood Aerodrome

After years of preparation, the Silver Spitfire took off from Goodwood Aerodrome yesterday (click here for more on the flight and the watches involved). Getting the Spitfire MK IX air ready involved more than a dozen specialists, working around the clock to restore it back to its original 1943 condition.

Piloting the iconic British aircraft, on the first leg of its journey, is Matt Jones, co-founder of the Boultbee Flight Academy. Boultbee Flight Academy is the world’s first Spitfire training school and approved Spitfire flight provider and is owned by British pilots Matt Jones and Steve Boultbee-Brooks.

Headquartered at the Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex; its proximity to the white cliffs of Beachy Head and the Needles means the Spitfire flying experience is conducted around one of the most iconic landscapes on the south coast of the United Kingdom.

Matt Jones and Steve Boultbee-Brooks partnered with IWC Schaffhausen to bring to fruition their dream of flying an original Spitfire around the world in “Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight”. Watch geeks were first given a glimpse of what’s to come back in January at SIHH. IWC’s Aircraft Hanger themed SIHH booth was arguably one of the highlights of the fair.

On the flight around the world, the two British pilots will cover more than 43,000 kilometres and visit 30 countries. The route will initially take them to Iceland, and from there to Canada and the USA. A total of approximately 100 flight segments will be needed to complete the mission from start to finish. During their journey through the different time zones.

Boultbee Brooks and Jones will wear the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight” (Ref. IW395501). As the official watch of the expedition, this timepiece makes it possible to set the time to a different time zone by simply turning the bezel to the desired location.

“The last few months have been intense, and full of activity. Now we’re thrilled that we can finally begin our great adventure and share the glory of the Silver Spitfire with the rest of the world. It’s a massive undertaking, and a huge privilege to be involved in such a project. Now it’s time to make history,” added Boultbee Brooks.

Godspeed!

More photos below