From the race track to the sky, Porsche performance proves to be the perfect choice.
Renowned as one of the most iconic sportscar manufacturers ever, Porsche made a name for itself by taking performance on four wheels to new heights with models like the 356 and 911. While showcasing its talents on the track in the mid-80s, Porsche was also dabbling in the sky with an innovative aviation collaboration with the team of engineers at Mooney. Porsche recently visited Pilot Max Schwarz at Paderborn Airport’s Hangar II to see and photograph an ultra-rare Mooney M20L PFM powered by a Porsche aircraft engine. With most of the 40 examples having been scrapped throughout history, the five that are still sky-worthy to fly continue to skyrocket in popularity and value amongst passionate collectors. Owner of the Mooney and founder of Hangar II at Paderborn Airport, Dirk Sadlowski, gave the go-ahead for what seemed to be the ultimate airborne photoshoot.
Along with documenting the flight from a following Piper plane, close-up shots reveal the Mooney’s PFM 3200 aircraft engine that would ultimately play a pivotal role in the development of the Porsche 964 911’s powerplant. Porsche’s journey into the sky didn’t kick off with the PFM 3200, but with the PFM 678, a little champ derived from the 356 engine that cranked out up to 73 horsepower. Fast forward to 1981, and the iconic 911 engines were being used, famously powering the SkyShip 500 and 600 airships seen in the James Bond film ‘A View to a Kill’. The PFM 3200, born in Weissach in 1981 and officially getting its wings in 1984/85, hit the production line in 1987, showing up fashionably late to the Porsche aircraft scene. Viewed as a legend of the sky to many aviators and collectors, the Porsche x Mooney M20L PFM remains a well-kept specimen that cruises above the skies of Westphalia. View all Porsches for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below.
Source: Porsche