Pilots Steve Boultbee Brooks and Matt Jones are making a mark across the aviation channels for their ambitious around-the-world endeavor. It’s not as if they are embarking their journey on a modern aircraft, the ripples are caused because they intend to fly a fully restored Silver Spitfire around the world. The goal is to fly across landmarks like the Grand Canyon in the West to Mount Fuji in the East.
To keep them company on this mission, is IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire ‘The Longest Flight’. The single-seater Supermarine Spitfire fighter was used in the World War II and it typically flew the distance of 450 miles. For this mission, the pilots have taken to the skies from the aerodrome at the center of the Goodwood Estate. They are flying a rebuilt Spit from 1943, which now hosts a mirror-like finish, in place of the paint.
Crossing 26 countries and clocking 27,000 miles, the pilots along with IWC are hoping to make their record. The two pilots have their base at the Goodwood’s Boultbee Flight Academy, which also restores Spits. It’s only natural for IWC to team up for this mission, because in 1948, IWC was commissioned to supply custom Mark 11 pilot watch to the RAF.
Earlier this year, IWC launched its Year of the Spitfire collection that saw a new generation of Spitfire watches that took inspiration from the original Mark 11. The special edition of Timezoner Spitfire ‘The Longest Flight’ comes with a 46 steel case. By simply clicking the bezel into a new position, you can adjust to watch to the new timezone.
Sporting a screw in crown, the watch is water resistant to up to 60 meters. The features include a 24-hour display for Worldtimer function and IWC-patented timezoner function. The watch houses the date display as an arc just below the 12 o’clock spot. To ensure longevity and tackling the longest journey, the glass on the watch is secured against displacement by drop in air pressure. The Sapphire glass is convex and has an antireflective coating on both sides.
Under the hood is an Automatic, self-winding 82760 Calibre IWC-manufactured movement with Pellaton automatic winding. Limited to only 250 pieces, there will be a tough fight for this unique timepiece. Details include central hacking seconds and 60 hours Power Reserve. Pick it up for $12,400.
