This is how the Olympic flame gets from Greece to Britain (PHOTO)

Fourth-Place Medal

18 May 2012 at 10:43 am

Carrying precious Olympic cargo, British Airways flight 2012 took off from Athens on Friday afternoon en route to a naval station in Culdrose. Resting in seats 1A and 1B were four lanterns containing the Olympic flame, which was lit by the sun on the grounds of the ancient Olympics last week. (There's only three in this picture from Paul Kelso of the Daily Telegraph.)

The plane is set to land in Britain at 7:30 PM local time. David Beckham, who is on board with the the Olympic flame, will be the first torchbearer in the UK. Seventy days from now, the cauldron at Olympic Stadium will be lit with the same fire.

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Kelso reports that the captain of the specially-designed Airbus made an announcement to the passengers as the plane taxied for takeoff. "Unless you are an Olympic flame there is no smoking on board," he said.