How do you carry a flame on a plane?

Here’s a question: how do you carry a flame (even an eternal one) on a scheduled transatlantic flight?

Well, the process goes something like this. For starters, there are four flames rather than one to make sure there is a back-up in case one, or two or even three extinguish during the flight.

The flames were enclosed in four heat resistant miners’ lamps with their oxygen supply and enough paraffin for 20 hours. They were enclosed in a case which was strapped to the seat.

The flames were accompanied by an Aer Lingus engineer with fire marshal experience.

Luckily for Aer Lingus they had a template in the transportation of the Olympic flame around the world.

As carrying a flame on a passenger airline is somewhat irregular permission from the every-wary American airport authorities and their Irish equivalent was required in advance.