The Flying Bulls will be putting on a number of aerial displays over the weekend of the Formula 1 Rolex Großer Preis von Österreich 2023. Fans can look forward to the sight and sound of these distinctive aircraft thundering over their heads. On Saturday, Dario Costa, one of the world’s top aerobatic pilots, will be at the controls of his favourite aircraft, the Zivko Edge 540, performing spectacular manoeuvres that will have the crowd gasping open-mouthed.
Also in the airborne line-up are the Alpha Jet, equipped with the latest avionics, and the F4U Corsair, an exceptionally fast and agile plane that features as the heraldic figure on the logo of the Flying Bulls. The Corsair has the unique capability of folding up its wings hydraulically.
* The Flying Bulls squadron:
- Zivko Edge 540
- Bell Cobra 209/AH-1F
- Chance Vought F4U-4 CORSAIR
- Alpha Jet
- Lockheed P-38 LIGHTNING
*Subject to change
In addition to the Flying Bulls, three brave souls in jet suits will also be taking off at the Red Bull Ring. The sight is likely to trigger memories of a certain hero from the Marvel Universe. In fact, the men in jet suits powered by five gas turbines will be Gravity Industries founder Richard Browning and pilots Paul Jones and Issa Kalfon. The suit is controlled by arm movements, which gives it unprecedented manoeuvrability. The current top speed is more than 80 miles per hour.
Facts about the jet suit:
Power: 1050 BHP
Jet turbines: 5
Engine speed: 120,000 rpm
Weight without fuel: 27 kilograms
Flying time: 5 to 10 minutes
Pilot Profiles
Richard Browning is Founder and Chief Test Pilot of Gravity Industries which designs, builds and flies Jet Suits, pioneering a new era of human flight. The company was founded in March 2017 to challenge the perceived boundaries in human aviation and to inspire others to dare to ask “What if?”. Prior to founding Gravity, Richard Browning was a Royal Marines reservist for six years.
Paul Jones is Gravity’s Head of flight training. Over the last few years, he has developed the training programme and has led to him running the team flight training, ground support development and client experience days. Paul is also overseeing the training of the mountain rescue programme. Before joining Gravity, Paul was a professional stunt athlete, rock climbing instructor and route setter.
Issa Kalfon is an accomplished Jet Suit pilot and the Deputy Head of Flight Training. He has continuously pushed the boundaries of technology and human capability, showcasing his skills through flights around the world. From major commercial events to special forces demonstrations, Issa’s expertise has been widely recognised. At Gravity, he holds the responsibility of training both private and commercial clients, ranging from celebrities to military special forces.
