The Flying Bulls are a private aircraft fleet stationed in Salzburg, Austria, formerly owned by the founder of Red Bull, billionaire and aviation lover Dietrich Mateschitz.
History
The Flying Bulls were founded in 1999 and are now based at Hangar 7, which was built specifically for their needs.[1] Hangar 7 is open for public display, while the next door Hangar 8 is used for maintenance and restoration.[2][3]
Since the beginning they have been collecting rare aircraft like the Douglas DC-6B, formerly used as the presidential airplane for the Yugoslav leader Tito, a Pilatus PC-6, several demilitarized Alpha Jets, as well as multiple helicopters like the Bell AH-1 Cobra. In 2009 a Lockheed P-38L Lightning joined the fleet.[4]
Furthermore the collection consists of a fully aerobatic Bölkow Bo 105, a Bell 47, a North American T-28, a North American B-25J, a Chance Vought F4U, amphibious aircraft like the Cessna 208 Amphibian and Aviat Husky, a Stearman PT-17, a Fairchild PT-19, as well as a P-51D since 2021.[4][2]
In 2013 a Bristol 171 Sycamore was restored to airworthy condition again, and is the only airworthy example in the world.[3] In 2023 the Flying Bulls acquired a Sikorsky S-58.[5]
In May of 2026 it was announced that a F-86 would join the fleet together with its pilot Frédéric Akary.[6]
Sigi Angerer
The collection of the Flying Bulls goes back to the aerobatic pilot Siegfried “Sigi” Angerer (2.8.1949 – 3.10.2022). He had his first flying expieriences at the time he was 15 years old. In his lifetime he completed over 24,000 flights across 70 different aircraft types. In 1990 he met Mateschitz at an airshow in Innsbruck, Austria, where he was performing with his F4U Corsair. After teaching Mateschitz how to fly on a Piper PA-18, he gained him (and Red Bull) as a sponsor for his aircraft. Together they founded the Flying Bulls in 1999.[1] Angerer was chiefpilot until his retirement in 2012.[7]
Angerer transferred the B-25 and the P-38 from the USA to Austria by air.
He shared his wide knowledge and passion for aviation with other people.[8]
Fleet
The Flying Bulls fleet consists of various aircraft and helicopters. Some of them are equipped specifically for TV broadcasting and photo flights. The majority is displayed at airshows and events.[2] Among the fleet are european or worldwide rarities such as the Douglas DC-6B, the Canadair F-86 or the Bristol 171. [4]
Tables correct as of may 2026[4]
| picture | type | registration | year of construction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviat Husky | OE-CKW | 2006 | |
 |
Beech T-34 | OE-ADM | 1955 |
 |
Boeing PT-17 | OE-AMM | 1943 |
 |
Canadair F-86 MK6 | F-AYSB | 1956 |
| Cessna 337 Skymaster | N991DM | 1969 | |
 |
Cessna 208 Amphibian | OE-EDM | 1996 |
 |
Chance Vought F4U-4 | OE-EAS | 1945 |
 |
Douglas DC-6B | OE-LDM (ex N996DM) | 1958 |
| Extra 300 LX | OE-ARN; OE-ARO | 2013 | |
 |
Fairchild PT-19 | N50429 | 1943 |
| Grumman F8F-2 | N68RW | 1947 | |
 |
Lockheed P-38 | N25Y | 1944 |
 |
North American B-25J | N6123C | 1945 |
 |
North American P-51D | OE-EFB | 1944 |
 |
North American T-28B | OE-EMM | 1955 |
 |
North American T-6 | OE-ERB | 1942 |
 |
P.68TC | OE-FSE | 2022 |
 |
Pilatus PC-6 | OE-EMD | 1998 |
| Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet | OE-FAS | 1980/81 | |
| Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet | OE-FDM | 1980/81 | |
| Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet | OE-FRB[9] | 1980/81 |
| picture | type | registration | year of construction |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
AS 350 B3+ | OE-XTV | 2009 |
 |
Bell 209/AH1F | N11FX | 1967 |
 |
Bell 47 G-3B-1 | OE-XDM | 1966 |
 |
Bristol 171 Sycamore | OE-XSY | 1957 |
 |
Eurocopter EC135 | OE-XFB | 2006 |
 |
MBB BO 105C | D-HSDM; D-HTDM | 1974 |
| MBB BO 105S – Media | D-HUDM | 1993 |
Current pilots
The Flying Bulls have a number of pilots who are specifically trained for certain aircraft.[10][3]
| pilot | function | operated types |
|---|---|---|
| Eskil Amdal | Pilot & CEO | DC-6B, P-38, P-51, F4U-4, F8F-2,T-28B, T-6, PT-17, T-34, Extra 300 LX |
| Raimund Riedmann | Flight operations manager & chiefpilot fixed wing aircraft | DC-6B, B-25J, P-38, P-51, F4U-4, T-28B, T-6, PT-17, PT-19, T-34, Cessna 337, Cessna 208 Amphibian, Aviat Husky, Extra 300 LX, P.68 |
| Mirko Flaim | Flight operations manager & chiefpilot rotary aircraft | AH-1F, Bo.105/Bo.105S, EC135, AS 350, Bell 47 |
| Frederic Akary | Pilot | F-86 |
| Stefan Doblhammer | Pilot | (Alpha Jet) |
| Eric Goujon | Pilot | F4U-4, PC-6, Extra 300 LX |
| Frederic Handelmann | Pilot | DC-6B, B-25J, T-6, Extra 300 LX |
| Miguel Hochleitner | Pilot | F4U-4, T-28B, PC-6, Extra 300 LX |
| Hans Pallaske | Pilot | T-34, PC-6, Cessna 337, Cessna 208 Amphibian |
| Ludwig Reiter | Pilot | B-25J, PT-17, PT-19, T-34, Cessna 208 Amphibian, Aviat Husky, Extra 300 LX, P.68 |
| Nicolas Rossier | Pilot | P-51, T-28B, T-6, Extra 300 LX |
| Matthias Schwaighofer | Pilot | AH-1F, Bo.105/Bo.105S, EC135, AS 350, Bell 47 |
| Siegfried Schwarz | Pilot & retired chiefpilot | AH-1F, Bo.105/Bo.105S, EC135, Bristol 171, AS 350, Bell 47 |
| Rainer Wilke | Pilot | Bo.105 |
Accidents and incidents
A Bede BD-5J “Microjet” (N53EJ) crashed in the afternoon of the first of May 2013 near Baumkirchen (Tyrol). The german pilot Guido Gehrmann reported problems and contemplated an emergency landing on the Inntalautobahn, however he had to land near Mils. The aircraft collided with a slope resulting in the death of the pilot.[11]
On the return flight from an airshow in Poland a North American T-28B (OE-ESA) crashed on the 20th of June near Jickowice (Czech Republic). The aircraft impacted terrain during a low level barrel roll. The pilot (Rainer Steinberger) suffered fatal injuries. The photographer on the second seat survived with major injuries.[12]
References
- ^ a b Tudor Mag (2026-04-02). “Tudor Takes To The Skies With The Flying Bulls!”. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c “The Flying Bulls”. European Airshows. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ^ a b c “Welcome to the Flying Bulls – AIRPOWER24 6th – 7th Sept 24”. www.airpower.gv.at. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ^ a b c d “Fleet”. www.flyingbulls.at. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ^ “Neuzugang: Die Flying Bulls haben jetzt einen S-58”. Austrian Wings (in Austrian German). 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ^ “The power of a jet, the feel of a legend”. www.flyingbulls.at. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ^ “Blue Skies, Sigi Angerer!”. Red Bull (in Austrian German). 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
- ^ “Siegfried Angerer 1948 – 2022”. www.flyingbulls.at. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
- ^ “Alpha Jet – OE-FRB”. Legendy Nebes. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ^ “Pilots”. www.flyingbulls.at. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. “Accident Bede BD-5J N53EJ, Wednesday 1 May 2013”. aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. “Loss of control Accident North American T-28B Trojan OE-ESA, Sunday 20 June 2021”. aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2026-05-19.