Worn Into Space, Breitling Airwolf Watch Now Benefits National Flight Academy
Posted in articles&news on Mar 1st, 2012 No Comments »
Time is running out (pun not so much intended as unavoidable) to get your bid in for the first of 500 limited edition watches Breitling has designed to commemorate the 2011 centennial anniversary of American Naval Aviation. For the last year, the Breitling Naval Centennial Limited Edition Airwolf #1 has been around the world and into space on the arms of world-famous aviators and will now go to auction to help raise money for youth scholarships to the National Flight Academy.
Breitling Airwolf Naval Centennial Limited Edition #1
The bidding ends on February 29 and the highest bidder will be presented with the watch by astronaut Mark Kelly – who wore it into space on Space Shuttle Endeavor’s final mission in May – along with the Official Aviators’ Flight Log Book that accompanied each aviator on each individual flight.
Mark Kelly wearing Airwolf #1
During the last year, the Breitling Naval Centennial Limited Edition Airwolf #1 has been worn by a host of illustrious and accomplished aviators:
• Mark Kelly – US Astronaut married to US Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Kelly wore Airwolf #1 while commanding his final mission, and the final mission of space shuttle Endeavor, in May 2011.
• Jaques Bothelin – Leader of the Breitling Jet Team that flew an 18-day East Mediterranean Tour over five countries in June/July.
Breitling Jet Team Formation
• Charlie Brown – Well-known British Warbird Pilot.
• Lee Proudfoot – British Professional Formation Display Pilot and member of the Old Flying Machine Company who spent seven years “Bush” flying for the British Antarctic Survey as chief pilot.
• Keith Skilling – B777 Captain at Air New Zealand and Warbird Display Pilot.
• Thom Richards – Former USAF General who fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
• Matthias Dolderer – German “Flying Bulls” Pilot, won 8th place in the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
• Major Dietmar Springer – of the Austrian Air Force.
• Francesco Fornabaio – Italian Freestyle Aerobatic Pilot.
• Ernst Frei – Chief Pilot and Operations Director for Super Constellation Flyers in Switzerland.
• Oliver Masurel – French World Aerobatic Champion.
• Flying Blue Angel #1, Capt. Greg McWherter – former TOPGUN instructor and Commander of the “World Famous Golden Dragons.”
Capt. Greg McWherter
The proceeds from the auction will benefit the “Breitling Scholars” program to the National Flight Academy, “whose programs use immersive learning techniques to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education through aviation-inspired scenarios and simulation.” According to Breitling, the program has enjoyed outstanding success – not just academically, but also behaviorally – boasting 80 percent reduction in dropouts, 90 percent reduction in truancy and 100 percent reduction in disciplinary problems. The “Breitling Scholars” program sends 100 students annually to attend a simulated aircraft carrier simulation camp in Pensacola, Fla.
Per the NFA website: “The National Flight Academy is designed to address the serious concerns of declining Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills and standards in our country. The Academy’s mission is to inspire students who subsequently return to their parent schools and seek out the more challenging courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.”
Students Learning at NFA
“I am excited to have inaugurated the journey of this timepiece and appreciate the good it will do to support STEM education in our nation’s middle and high school,” said Kelly.
As of February 25 at 4PM, the bid was up to $ 48,500.
“The National Flight Academy is overwhelmed by the generosity of Breitling to allow the rich historical relevance of the #1 Airwolf watch to benefit the most modern learning program in the nation,” said NFA President, Gerry Hoewing. “The money raised from this auction will enable students from all over the world to improve performance in science, technology, engineering and math.”
Of the other 499 pieces produced, 50 will be given to the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation of which Breitling is a Silver National Sponser. The remaining pieces have been on sale since last year and the numbers are dwindling – the Breitling Boutique in Manhattan has only a few left. Priced at $ 4,500 each, $ 100 also gets donated back to the Foundation.
National Aviation Centennial Seal
A Doxa Sub 1200T, which was worn by famed marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, has been auctioned off to support the Ocean Futures Society which is dedicated to raising awareness concerning threats to many marine Eco Systems. The Doxa brand has long been connected with the Cousteau family as Jacques-Yves was known to sport a Doxa in his early years of pioneering ocean exploration. The Doxa Sub 1200T that was available in the auction had been worn by Jean Michel 25 hours worth of diving. Unfortunately, that history did not translate to an especially high hammer price for the auction.
