Mention the word Red Bull, and besides the well-known drink, many people think of sports one way or another.
Images Copyright The flying Bulls
So who are the Flying Bulls? They are a unique team of aviation enthusiasts with a great passion for rare historical aircraft and helicopters. And they are lots more besides. Not only do they watch over the most beautiful and exceptional fleet of aircraft in the world, they have played a significant role in the creation of Hangar‑7 and Hangar-8.
Red Bull’s knowledge of aircraft maintenance and restoration is second to none. We take a look at some of their aircraft and helicopters in the fleet. Red Bull mechanics and technicians ensure the aircraft and helicopters are in most cases even better than when they left the factory.
Passion Gives You Wings!
The history of the Flying Bulls began in the 1980s. During this time, Sigi Angerer, a Tyrolean Airways pilot, flew modern jets, but his true love was old historic aircraft.
On his search for an affordable war bird, he found a North American T-28B and took it back to Innsbruck, Austria, for restoration. Soon he added a Grumman G44 Widgeon and the legendary Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair to the collection. This is when he met Red Bull founder, the late Dietrich Mateschitz.
The Corsair brought Angerer and Dietrich Mateschitz together, and the latter saw an ideal corporate symbol for the “Red Bull gives you wings” advertising slogan in the extraordinary aircraft. And so the idea of the Flying Bulls was born. As the energy drink began to conquer the world, so did the fleet.
With space running out at Innsbruck airport, a plan was hatched in the late 1990s to build a new hangar next to Salzburg airport to house the growing collection.
It was also time to give the scattered network of pilots and technicians a more permanent residence, and so “The Flying Bulls” company was created in 1999. Since then, the combination of technical excellence and stunning looks has made stars out of the Flying Bulls.
Besides historic aircraft, Red Bull also operates a number of modern aircraft and helicopters. One unique aspect of the Red Bull helicopter fleet is that two of their helicopters, namely the BO 105’s are used for aerobatic displays around the world.
Red Bull sponsors a number of pilots worldwide, with many flying in the well-known Red Bull Air Race series (Series is temporary suspended). These pilots own their own aircraft, but every aircraft is well adorned with Red Bull logos and advertising colours. We have not included these aircraft here.
Aircraft Fleet
- DC-6B (OE-LDM)
- North American B-25J Mitchell (N6123C)
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning (N25Y)
- Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair (OE-EAS)
- North American T-28B Trojan (OE-EMM)
- North American P-51D Mustang (F-AZSB)
- Four Alpha Jets (OE-FAS, OE-FDM, OE-FRB, D-ICDM)
- North American T-6 Harvard (OE-ERB)
- PT-17 Stearman (OE-AMM)
- Fairchild PT-19 (N50429)
- Cessna C208 Caravan – Amphibian (OE-EDM)
- Pilatus Porter PC-6 (OE-EMD)
- Cessna C337 Skymaster (N991DM)
- Aviat Husky (OE-CKW)
- Beech T-34 Mentor (OE-ADM)
- Sukhou Su-29 (N69KL)
- Two Extra 300LX (OE-ARN, OE-ARO)
- P.68TC Observer (OE-FSE)
Helicopter Fleet
- Bell Cobra 209/AH-1F (N11FX)
- Two BO 105C (D-HSDM, D-HTDM)
- BO 105S (D-HUDM)
- EC135 (OE-XFB)
- Bristol 171 Sycamore (OE-XSY)
- AS 350 B3 Ecureuil (OE-XTV)
- Bell 47 G-3B-1 Soloy (OE-XDM)
The Flying Bulls is not to be confused with The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team. The home of the Red Bull Aerobatic Team is an airfield near of Jarome in north-eastern Bohemia. This aerobatic team flies four XtremeAir SBach 342 aircraft for airshow displays.