For the first time in the 51-year history of the legendary Italian car-maker, a Ferrari Formula 1 racer has flown aboard a military transport aircraft.
Hauled into Le Bourget from Turin by a Lockheed Martin/Alenia Tactical Transport Systems C-27J Spartan II before the show opened, last year's world championship-winning F1-2000, blood-red darling of the "tifosi" Ferrari fanatics, is starring on the Finmeccanica/Alenia Aerospazio stand.
Getting the car on and off the C-27J was relatively simple, thanks to the aircraft's height-adjustable undercarriage, which enabled the Ferrari to be loaded without any hitches despite its minuscule ground clearance.
Ferrari and Alenia Aerospazio are linked by a co-operation agreement signed by Finmeccanica and the Maranello-based car-maker in 1999. It provides for the transfer of specific aerospace technologies, especially structures, materials, aerodynamics, systems design and the man-machine interface.
The Ferrari F1-2000 on display is one of the cars that lifted last year's F1 laurels. Designed by Rory Byrne, the 3-litre V10-powered machine helped German superstar Michael Schumacher the Scuderia's first world drivers' championship since South African Jody Scheckter took the ultimate motor-racing accolade back in 1979.
Source: Flight Daily News
