F1 driver Charles Leclerc trades Ferrari car for Rafale jet with French Air Force

Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc swapped his Ferrari for a Rafale fighter jet during a special two-day training mission with the French Air Force at Base 113 Saint-Dizier in eastern France. 

Canal+ documented the event, which offered a unique glimpse into the world of military aviation through the eyes of the Monegasque driver, who experienced the immense power and precision of a Rafale in action. 

Throughout the mission, Leclerc was given the callsign “Perceval” — a nod to his middle name. Used to driving at top speeds of around 360 kilometers (223 miles) per hour in his Ferrari, Leclerc faced an entirely new level of performance in the cockpit of the Rafale, which can achieve speeds of Mach 1.8, or over 2,222 kilometers (617 miles) per hour. 

The documentary captured the mission preparation for the driver, which included undergoing the same medical examination required for fighter pilots.  

“Are there any buttons I absolutely shouldn’t touch?” Leclerc asked. His question was not unfounded; in 2019, a civilian passenger had accidentally ejected from a Rafale B during takeoff. 

« J’ai l’impression d’être dans un jeu vidéo. » Ce n’est ni un jeu vidéo, ni un simulateur mais bien un Rafale dont @Charles_Leclerc a pris les commandes lors d’une mission d’entraînement de l’@armee_de_lair CHARLES LECLERC SUPERSONIQUE À DÉCOUVRIR À 19H00 SUR CANAL+ pic.twitter.com/p3tppQMOHi— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 3, 2024

The mission introduced Leclerc to several core aspects of fighter jet operations. One of the most intense moments was an in-flight refueling maneuver involving an Airbus A400M multirole airlifter. Leclerc also took the opportunity to pilot the Rafale himself for a brief period, gaining hands-on experience under the guidance of French Air Force instructors. 

On the second day of the mission, Leclerc engaged in supersonic flight over Toulon, southern France, where he endured accelerations of up to 9G. For comparison, the most demanding Formula 1 race typically generates between 5G and 6G. The post F1 driver Charles Leclerc trades Ferrari car for Rafale jet with French Air Force appeared first on AeroTime.

Go to Source