The Spitfire that's going around the world

What we find are two pieces of machinery with matching silver liveries, emblazoned with IWC logos and a matching ‘G-IRTY’ serial number. One machine is a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 1954 ‘Gullwing’. The other, a 1944 Vickers Supermarine Spitfire MK IX, here to help promote the extraordinary ‘Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight’ expedition.

It’s an undertaking which is set to take the two pilots four months to complete. Flying 27,000 miles, and stopping in 30+ countries, sharing legs as they go. The plane they will be flying around the world isn’t actually here at all. This is a ‘back-up’ Spitfire to the real G-IRTY, currently undergoing extensive restoration and modification in time for their first flight.

Once revealed, the genuine G-IRTY – also a MK IX Spitfire which flew 51 combat missions during the Second World War – will be even more impressive, with a polished aluminium finish creating a mirror-like appearance. That decision was made to ‘de-militarise’ the aircraft and highlight the timeless beauty of R.J. Mitchell’s masterpiece.

Goodwood – with its historic roots as an active WW2 fighter aerodrome – is a fitting meeting place for the worlds of aviation and motoring. And as Christoph Grainger-Herr, the CEO of IWC Schaffhausen addresses the crowd, introducing David Coulthard and the IWC racing 300 SL, his focus quickly turns to the monumental expedition his company is set to sponsor this summer. An expedition dreamed-up, planned, and set in motion by Matt Jones and Steve Brooks, the two co-founders of the Boultbee Flight Academy, the world’s first Spitfire flight school based here within Goodwood’s Hangar 8.

As the IWC ceremony continues, we manage to speak with Matt Jones, who helps to fill us in on ‘The Longest Flight’.

“I took my godson to see the Disney film 'Planes'. We sat there, and he was so inspired by this film and this little aeroplane called ‘Dusty Crophopper’, who flies in an around-the-world race, and I was quite moved by it.

“I came away thinking 'maybe we could do that'. We've got these aeroplanes, and we love adventure and those sorts of ideas. Now, I'm standing next to you, with our aeroplane called G-IRTY, not too dissimilar to Dusty, and four years later, we're about to do exactly that and fly around the world. It’s incredible!”

He’s keen to praise IWC as we discuss the sheer scale of the project – who are here as the Official Timing Partner for the 77th Members’ Meeting.

“We're a small team who wants to inspire people. And it's difficult for small teams to inspire on a large, global scale. We wanted someone to fit with us and tell the story around the world, and IWC are doing that brilliantly”. 

The next big milestone on Matt’s mind is the completion of the G-IRTY build, which is due to finish in May, followed by the Silver Spitfire’s first flight. Matt and Steve then plan to fly the plane around the UK as part of an extensive testing period, before joining the air show circuit in June. Finally, setting off on their epic adventure in August 2019. Taking off right here from the Goodwood Aerodrome.

The goal? To promote the ‘Best of British’ worldwide, showcasing the nation’s heritage in engineering excellence, and an aircraft that changed the course of history.

Matt and Steve hope the expedition will reunite the Spitfire with the many countries that owe their freedom, at least in part, to this iconic aircraft. With the unmistakable sound of its 27.0-litre Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and the sight of its majestic elliptical polished aluminium wing inspiring future generations, more than eighty years after a Spitfire first graced the skies only a stone’s throw down the road at Eastleigh.

“Hopefully it will be as inspirational to everyone who sees us, as Dusty was to my little godson that day”.

Judging by the volley-fire of questions and words of encouragement from everyone who spots both Matt and Steve wearing their expedition jackets, we’re sure they’ll have no trouble inspiring just about everyone lucky enough to see the Silver Spitfire in flight this summer. Good luck chaps, and blue skies!