Iberia to fly special charter to observe total solar eclipse over Spain

Iberia is preparing a special charter flight to coincide with a total solar eclipse crossing northern Spain on 12 August. The flight, numbered IB1473, will depart Madrid-Barajas in the evening local time and fly to the province of Palencia, where it will position ahead of totality before returning to Madrid.

The aircraft assigned to the flight is an Airbus A321XLR. According to Iberia, it will operate above 33,000 feet, a height chosen to keep the aircraft above cloud and much of the lower atmosphere that can distort views of the eclipse from the ground. The airline noted that this altitude will be especially useful because totality will occur shortly before sunset, when the sun will sit low on the horizon.

The flight number is said to reference the birth year of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Iberia said the crew will be led by Captain Javier Lopera Alcalá, with First Officer Javier Meana Fernández, who has a background in astrophysics, also on board.

Researchers from the Shelios project plan to use the flight as an airborne observatory, studying the sun's corona and morphology during the period of totality. The event will reportedly be viewable via a live stream from onboard the aircraft, and the flight's progress can be tracked online.

No passengers beyond scientists and invited guests are mentioned in connection with the flight, and Iberia has not indicated whether similar eclipse-viewing flights are planned for future events.