IR 's life-saving mission inspired the founding of the volunteer International Rescue Corps , originally made up of a group of British firemen who contributed to the humanitarian effort following the 1980 Irpinia earthquake . Virgin Group has used the series in branding its services : Virgin Atlantic operates a Boeing 747-400 airliner named '' Lady Penelope '' , while Virgin Trains owns a fleet of locomotives that are all named after main characters and vehicles and used specifically to " rescue " broken-down trains
1980 Irpinia earthquake
1980 Irpinia earthquake
Thunderbirds (TV series)