OnDeck – July 2019

Boultbee Brooks and Matt Jones also want

their undertaking to become a source of

inspiration for young people with regard to

engineering and mechanical engineering.

Only if the enthusiasm for engineering and

deep know-how is kept alive, will the Spitfire

continue to grace the skies for many years to

come.

THE RESTORATION

Boultbee Brooks and Jones found the aircraft

that will travel around the Earth in a museum.

It was built in 1943 in Castle Bromwich and

completed more than 50 flights during its

lifetime. To enable its full restoration, the Spit-

fire was dismantled into its constituent parts.

Each of the 80,000 rivets was carefully tested,

cleaned, and replaced when necessary. A

special polishing technique was used to create

a coating that produces that mirror-like high

sheen, while maintaining the aircraft’s original

patina, as well as its sculpture-like beauty.

About 14 experts worked on its restoration for

more than 2 years.

The Spitfire is one of the most important

achievements in aviation history. The iconic

design of this propeller aircraft with its char-

acteristic elliptical wings is the epitome of

functional design. Recalling their experiences

with the single-engined aircraft of the Royal

Air Force (RAF), pilots never fail to praise:

“with a Spitfire you don’t just fly. You feel that

you are one with it as if wearing a hardsuit.

This is how immediate and precise the Spit-

fire’s response to the pilot’s commands is.”

“MUCH LIKE AN IWC WATCH, THE

SPITFIRE IS AN INTOXICATING

PIECE OF MACHINERY WITH A

FA SCINATING HERITAGE.”

STEVE BOULTBEE BROOKS

Matt Jones

A Spitfire aircraft is displayed at the 77th

Goodwood Members’ Meeting on April 6,

2019 in West Sussex, United Kingdom

The Silver Spitfire during the

IWC Schaffhausen Gala at

the Salon International de la

Haute Horlogerie (SIHH)

EXPEDITION

PILOT’S WATCH

CHRONOGRAPH

SPITFIRE