Timely arrival of a classic

 

THE quiet of Terminal One, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang was shattered recently by the drone of propellers. It marked the landing of an aircraft quite unlike the norm. The plane, which started its journey around the world on Jan 11, is sponsored by renown watchmakers International Watch Co, Schaffhausen, better known as IWC. The flight marks the launch of IWC's latest Pilot watch, the Mark XV, on board the Iron Annie.

This 60-year-old aircraft, from the JU52 class, had earlier stopped in Penang for refuelling enroute to Subang. IWC and its local distributors Hagemeyer Cosa Liebermann Singapore (HCL), launched the Mark XV recently at the International Trade and Exhibition Centre Subang (ITECS) at the airport. HCL regional managing director Pieter Bonsma and IWC executive vice-president Hannes Pantli welcomed the plane and Captain Gerri Gugger and crew.

The watch company had planned a short flight on board Iron Annie for a few guests as part of the launch, but the flight was aborted because of bad weather. The plane will cover the Gulf States, India, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and the United States on its tour expected to take 280 hours, or just under 12 days.

Gugger spoke fondly of the Iron Annie, which is not surprising given that she is one of only seven such still-certified airworthy planes in the world. The planes are flown by volunteer pilots. Gugger pointed out the meticulous planning involved in this unprecedented trip covering some 40,000km in an aircraft that did not have air-conditioning or even pressurised cabins.

Those who want to follow the flight of Iron Annie can surf the company's website at http://www.iwc.ch.

Story and pictures by
Hariharan Krishna Iyer
Reprinted from
The New Straits Times
1 March 2000