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 Volta ao mundo num Silver Spitfire infographic
A infografia mostra a rota do Silver Spitfire com detalhes sobre o avião e a expedição.
GN39756PT

AVIAÇÃO

Silver Spitfire dá a volta ao mundo

By Ninian Carter

December 3, 2019 - No ano do 100º aniversário da Royal Air Force britânica, dois aviadores passaram quatro meses a circumnavegar o globo num Spitfire de
alumínio polido.

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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