Flying high in papaya with Etihad and McLaren

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Talk about taking track limits to 35,000 feet! Etihad Airways just leveled up its partnership with McLaren by giving one of its Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners a breathtaking makeover in Abu Dhabi.

Dressed in McLaren’s unmistakable papaya orange and sleek black paint scheme, which was teased by the two partners earlier this year – the widebody twinjet is officially the first of its kind to wear a full-blown Formula One livery.

The reveal was anything but low-key – Etihad hosted a star-studded launch event at its Abu Dhabi engineering facilities on Monday evening, complete with a Guinness World Record for the largest single-piece kabuki drop ever.

Safe to say, pulling off that drape reveal took almost as much precision as a 2-second pit stop!

Returning to service immediately, the vibrant aircraft is set to turn heads at airports worldwide. So, keep your eyes on the skies, because papaya power just went global.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.