From March to September 2017, the Breitling DC-3 will be doing a grand world tour in several stages, an amazing accomplishment for this legendary plane that will be celebrating its 77th birthday. The crew will not be alone in flying from one continent to the other, since a 500-piece Navitimer limited edition will also be onboard throughout the journey.

This DC-3 HB-IRJ was delivered to American Airlines in 1940 and first used by the American military between 1942 and 1944, before resuming service on behalf of various commercial airlines. Restored by a group of dedicated enthusiasts, it now flies under Breitling colors and participates in a variety of airshows. In 2017, Breitling will launch its DC-3 on a major round-the-world tour in several stages that will notably encompass the Middle East, India, South-East Asia, North America and Europe. This World Tour will begin and end in Switzerland, starting from Geneva in March and winding up in September at the Breitling Sion Airshow 2017. It will be punctuated by numerous stopovers providing opportunities to organize events and take part in air shows. Certain privileged passengers will be welcomed aboard for certain stretches.

The Breitling DC-3 World Tour is destined to touched down in New York City this week, bringing with it the storied 77-year-old plane’s precious cargo: a 500-piece limited edition of the brand’s iconic Navitimer watch that will be available for sale at the conclusion of the historic, globe-spanning journey.

The Breitling Navitimer Breitling DC-3 Limited Edition carries on the tradition of the original Navitimer, introduced in 1952 and regarded as one of the quintessential timepieces for aviators. The watch’s 46-mm stainless steel case features the circular slide rule bezel, used in making calculations for airborne navigation, which has long been the defining characteristic of Navitimer watches. Powering the watch is Breitling’s in-house Caliber 01, which includes an integrated chronograph function and a 70-hour power reserve and which has been officially certified as a chronometer by the Swiss testing agency COSC. The dial’s tricompax design includes subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock for chronograph minutes, chronograph hours, and running seconds, respectively along with a date window at the 4:30 position. Marking this watch as a special edition is the solid steel caseback engraved with the Breitling DC-3 World Tour (below); as an added enticement, each of the 500 watches (which Breitling says can be pre-ordered now) will be delivered with a certificate signed by the flight’s captain.