View this century’s longest solar eclipse aboard the JetLite 737-700 

On Wednesday, July 22, 2009, we are going to witness the greatest eclipse of the 21st century. A total eclipse of the sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon’s umbral shadow will begin in India and cross through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. Here is a great chance for the eclipse chasers to fly above the clouds at level four-one-zero to have a clear view of the eclipse.

The first time even in India, a plane has been chartered to see the total eclipse from above the clouds. Cox and Kings, in collaboration with Eclipse Chasers Athenaeum, is organizing a historical passenger eclipse flight, which will heighten the experience of seeing the longest eclipse of this century. A JetLite 737-700 has been chartered for the same and it will remain in the air for three hours. Mr. C V Devgun, the key person of Space Technology and Education Pvt Ltd (STEPL), said…

“The new aircraft hired from JetLite will take off at 3:30 in the morning for the Delhi to Delhi 4hr 20min flight. The aircraft will intercept the eclipse shadow at midpoint at 6.26 am IST near Gaya and give around a 3-minute long eclipse view at an altitude of 41,000 feet.”

Enthusiasts sitting along the sun side windows of the aircraft will be able to shoot the eclipse, while the eclipse chasers sitting along the Earth side windows will be able to photograph the lunar shadow moving over the Earth’s cloud top.

The eclipse flight will have four classes of seats, depending on the sun’s visibility. Tickets cost Rs 79,000, Rs 67,000, Rs 59,000 and Rs 29,000 per seat (about $1,635, $1,390, $1,225 and $600 respectively). This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime to view nature’s best show.

Via Bornrich.org