The Original Ferrari

Most of you have probably heard the story of how Enzo Ferrari chose the black horse for his Scuderia Ferrari racing team ...

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If you are not aware of the story, Enzo met the mother, Countess Paolina Baracca, of the deceased Italian air force ace from WW1. His name was Count Francesco Baracca. Francesco Baracca had 34 confirmed kills in World War I and is revered in Italy as a hero. Countess Baracca met Enzo Ferrari and presented Enzo with a bit of fabric from his downed airplane and told Enzo to use the black horse as it would give him luck. Enzo later added the yellow background from his hometown of Modena and the famous Scuderia Ferrari emblem was born.

Here is a photo of Francesco Barraca standing beside his Nieuport XVII ... the first airplane Baracca had painted the black horse on the side of the fuselage.

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In my old age, I have taken up the hobby I had as a kid building models. I just finished this one ...

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The model is of the Nieuport XVII that Francesco Barraca flew in World War I. It is not the airplane he lost his life in ... that was the Spad VII ... this is a photo of the aircraft he lost his life in. Restored by the Francesco Baracca Museum in Lugo, Italy (near Bologna).

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But the Nieuport XVII is first airplane that Barraca adopted the black horse on the side. Hence, the original Ferrari.

 

My understanding is that the Spad VII and later the XIII were superior to the Nieuports.

 

I understand that the Spad was superior to the Nieuport. Also, I believe the German Fokker DVII might have been the better of any fighter. But that is all subjective