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 Rund um die Welt in einer Silver Spitfire infographic
Grafik zeigt die Route der Silber Spitfire mit Details zum Flugzeug und der Expedition.
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AVIATION

Silver Spitfire Weltumrundung

By Ninian Carter

December 3, 2019 - Zum 100. Jahrestag der britischen Royal Air Force sind zwei Flieger in vier Monaten rund um die Welt in einer hochglanzpolierten Aluminium Spitfire aus dem WWII geflogen.

A World War II Spitfire aeroplane is due to return to the UK on Dec 5, following an epic 40,000km, four-month flight around the world.

The striking aircraft, which has had its customary camouflage paint removed and instead its aluminium body mirror-polished, set off westwards in August taking in such countries as Greenland, Canada, United States, Russia, Japan, Thailand, India, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

It is flown by two pilots who alternate flying shifts – while one flies the Spitfire, the other rests in a Pilatus PC-12 support plane flying alongside. It also carries an engineer and spare parts, as well as a documentary film-making team.

Weather has been the expedition’s biggest challenge as, unlike modern aircraft, Spitfires do not have instruments that allow them to fly in bad conditions or cloud. The plane is deliberately flown low as often as possible so as to be visible from the ground.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 04/12/2019; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Handouts
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