Castle Brom-built Spitfire leaves on 24,000 mile mission

SILVER LINING: The plane will travel through Russia, India, Japan and
the United States during its epic journey. Photo/Ministry of Defence.

A SPITFIRE built at Castle Bromwich has been given a brand new mission more than 70 years after it first rolled off the production line.
This week two pilots have set off on an attempt to circumnavigate the globe in the newly-restored fighter plane.
Matt Jones and Steve Brooks left Goodwood aerodrome, in West Sussex, yesterday morning (Monday).
Together the daring duo will be taking it in turns to pilot the iconic aircraft.
The pair will make more than 100 stops in 30 countries during their round-the-world trip, which will take around five months.
By the time that the Spitfire once again touches down on British soil they will have clocked up more than 27,000 miles.
The Mark IX was originally built in Castle Bromwich in 1943 and has been dubbed the Silver Spitfire - because of its metallic colouring.
Having seen service in the latter part of the Second World War, it took more than a year to restore the aircraft to its former glory.
According to its official website, no airworthy Spitfire anywhere in the world has more original parts.
You can find out more about the plane and the extraordinary journey ahead here.