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Enzo Ferrari’s only living son and Vice Chairman of Ferrari will now travel to Formula 1 races and business meetings aboard a brand-new Bombardier Challenger 3500 – and it happens to be the milestone 200th example of the model ever produced.
When your last name is Ferrari, one might expect cars to be your most important means of transportation. Yet Piero Ferrari has just added something capable of flying at more than 850 km/h to his collection. The 81-year-old billionaire has taken delivery of a brand-new Bombardier Challenger 3500, a private jet with a base price of $26.7 million, while extensively customized examples can easily exceed the $30 million mark.
Piero Ferrari, the only living son of legendary Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, currently serves as Vice Chairman of the famous Italian automaker. He is expected to use his new aircraft primarily for traveling to Formula 1 races, as well as for other business commitments.
His Challenger 3500, however, is special for another reason – it is the 200th example of the model to leave Bombardier’s production line, marking an important milestone for the Canadian manufacturer.
A Private Jet Designed as a Luxury Lounge in the Sky
Bombardier introduced the Challenger 3500 in 2021 as the successor to the highly successful Challenger 350. The new model adopted a number of technologies developed for the much larger and more expensive Global 7500, including voice-controlled cabin functions and the renowned Nuage seats, designed to reduce pressure on the body during longer flights.
Particular attention has been paid to passenger comfort. The cabin features improved sound insulation, a larger galley and a 24-inch 4K display, while a lower cabin altitude is designed to reduce fatigue on longer journeys.
The interior can be almost entirely tailored to the owner’s preferences, from the seating configuration to the choice of materials, finishes and individual details. Bombardier, however, has not revealed how Piero Ferrari configured his own aircraft, so for now it remains unknown whether he incorporated any elements inspired by the famous automotive brand into the cabin.
Enough Range for Serious Business Travel
The Challenger 3500 belongs to the super-midsize category of business jets and can accommodate up to 10 passengers. Its maximum range is approximately 3,400 nautical miles, or around 6,300 kilometers, while the aircraft can reach speeds of Mach 0.83, equivalent to roughly 870 km/h.
Such performance makes it particularly suitable for company owners and executives who frequently travel between major business centers. Bombardier also states that the Challenger 3500 offers highly competitive direct operating costs within its class.
The model’s popularity is reflected in its sales figures. Since 2023, the Challenger 3500 has recorded more deliveries than any other business jet in the medium and large categories, with major private aviation operators such as NetJets and VistaJet among its customers.
Piero Ferrari Continues to Preserve the Family Legacy
Piero Ferrari is far more than simply the heir to one of the most famous names in automotive history. Born in 1945 to Enzo Ferrari and Lina Lardi, he has been involved for decades in the company founded by his father.
In addition to serving as Vice Chairman of Ferrari, he is President of the Italian engineering company HPE-COXA and, until recently, also served as Honorary Chairman of the Ferretti shipyard.
Taking delivery of the milestone Challenger 3500 therefore seems entirely appropriate for a man whose professional life involves constant travel between business meetings, automotive events and Formula 1 races.
A base price of $26.7 million is certainly no small sum, even in the world of private aviation, and with individual customization, the Challenger 3500 can cost more than $30 million. Bombardier has not disclosed exactly how much Piero Ferrari paid for his aircraft.
One thing, however, is certain – the next time he heads to a Formula 1 race, a car wearing the Prancing Horse badge will no longer be enough for Ferrari’s Vice Chairman.
