6 November 2023
Remember when pilots Matt Jones, Steve Brooks and Ian Smith flew the Silver Spitfire on a four-month round-the-world flight in 2019?
The film of the trip, called Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight, is to be shown on TV on the Sky History channel, on Remembrance Sunday 12 November 2023 at 9pm.
The 90-minute documentary follows the British team’s attempt at the world’s first circumnavigation in an 80-year-old Spitfire Mk IX fighter – ‘a test of human and mechanical endurance, considered by many to be impossible’.
The expedition set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation by a single seat, single engine piston aircraft. They flew 27,000 miles acreoss 24 countries. Actor and pilot Tom Cruise called the achievement ‘a pilot’s Everest’ in a personal letter written to pilots Matt Jones and Steve Brooks.
Silver Spitfire flying over Egypt
The film’s description says, “With a stunning full orchestral score recorded by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and featuring music by White Lies and Lily Budiasa, the film immerses viewers across the world with breath-taking aerial vistas.
“Chasing the sun westward from Europe to North America, Russia, Asia, Arabia and back again, these incredible settings form the backdrop for the Silver Spitfire as it roars around the world.”
Spitfire Pilot Matt Jones said, “In 2019, we embarked on a global ‘Boys Own’ adventure with the Silver Spitfire to inspire and commemorate. What we experienced was terrifying and awe-inspiring in equal measure.
“Facing challenges at every turn, this iconic aircraft brought together people from all walks of life, uniting nations and showcasing the enduring legacy of R.J. Mitchell’s visionary design.”
