#AIRPOWER22 with numerous premieres and superlatives
“Above the clouds!”: Under this motto, the Austrian Armed Forces, together with the Province of Styria and Red Bull as a partner, will organize AIRPOWER22, the largest air show in Europe, at Hinterstoisser Air Base in Zeltweg on Friday, September 02, 2022, and Saturday, September 03, 2022. It will consist of a performance show on the ground, as well as demonstrations by the Austrian Air Force and international military aerobatic squadrons and participants from the field of civil aviation, first and foremost the Flying Bulls, as well as a static show of civil exhibitors from the fields of the aviation industry, research and education, and an extensive supporting event at the airfield site, including the Military Aviation Museum.
Admission to AIRPOWER22 is free.
“This year, AIRPOWER22 offers a program in unprecedented abundance with numerous highlights and premieres. A total of around 35 Flying Displays with eight hours of programming will be on display. Around 60 aircraft will be presented in the Static Display,” explains Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
Enormous added value for the Murtal region and Styria
According to the organizer, the Austrian Armed Forces, around four million euros will be invested this year, which will be shared by the Armed Forces, the province of Styria, and Red Bull. The province of Styria is supporting the supporting program with a maximum of 1.2 million euros. There are numerous positive effects for the Murtal region and Styria. “AIRPOWER ensures additional overnight stays and brings a total added value of around nine million euros to Styria. In addition, the event offers us a good opportunity to present Styria beyond its borders as an innovative business location and diverse vacation destination,” says Styrian Economic Minister Barbara Eibinger-Miedl.
Numerous program highlights with premieres and superlatives
“In addition to the well-known Bundesheer types Eurofighter with a solo display as well as an intercept demonstration with two Eurofighters and a C-130 with subsequent performance demonstration (“Dog-Fight” demo of two Eurofighters), Gripen and F-16 will be among the aircraft to be marveled at in several solo displays. Jet and propeller-driven training aircraft will include T346 (Italy), L39NG (Czech Republic), PC-9M (Slovenia), and PC-7 (Austria). There will also be a formation flight with three DA-40s and four PC-7s,” said AIRPOWER22 Display Director Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ploder.
Several aerobatic squadrons will also perform, led by the Frecce Tricolori with 10 MB-339A as well as the Patroulle Suisse with 6 F-5E, Patrulla Aguila with 7 CASA C-101 and Krila Oluje with 6 PC-9M.
Flying Bulls at AIRPOWER22
The Flying Bulls are a unique aircraft squadron whose history began back in the 1980s. What started with a legendary North American T-28B “Trojan” has since grown into one of the most remarkable private aviation projects in the world. Today, the Flying Bulls fleet comprises 29 aircraft, including classics such as the Douglas DC-6B, a Lockheed P-38 “Lightning” and the legendary Chance Vought F4U-4 “Corsair”, as well as helicopters such as the Bell Cobra 209/AH-1F or the aerobatic BO-105. The Flying Bulls pilots are passionate ambassadors for aviation and make the hearts of fans beat faster during their performances around the world. The team is based in Salzburg’s Hangars 7 & 8, where international specialists lovingly look after their winged young and oldtimers.
At AIRPOWER22, the Flying Bulls will be in action both on the ground and in the air with their historic machines and are looking forward to the “Red Bull Aerobatic Triple” – an aerobatic world premiere. “It’s great to have AIRPOWER back! For the Flying Bulls, us pilots and me as a native Styrian, it is an absolute highlight and privilege to be able to fly in Zeltweg in front of so many enthusiastic fans,” says Flying Bulls helicopter chief pilot Siegfried “Blacky” Schwarz.
There will also be many other historic aircraft on static and flying display, including a Draken, Fokker A1 (built 1914), Beech-18 AT11 (built 1937), T-&G-NF TEXAN (built 1938), Pilatus P2 (built 1945), and an Antonov AN2 (built 1952).
The Flying Bulls are a unique aircraft squadron whose history began back in the 1980s
World premiere “Vibes in the sky” at AIRPOWER22
A real, also artistic world premiere is a large flying display of the Austrian Armed Forces with a total of nine helicopters of the type Alouette-III, one Eurofighter, three PC-6 as well as a helicopter AW 169. All aircraft of this display move to a specially composed symphony, composed and arranged by the well-known arranger Tristan Schulze and played by a selection of about 100 military musicians. The composition of the work “Vibes in the sky” was written by Tristan Schulze. The well-known composer and arranger was born in 1964 in Saxony (Germany). After studying cello in Dresden, he learned the classical opera and concert repertoire in the orchestra. In Benares (India) he studied Indian classical music, then conducting and composition at the Vienna Academy of Music. Study visits took him to Senegal, Argentina and Mexico. Through his longstanding contact and collaboration with the composer Hans Zimmer, he also developed a rich film music oeuvre, on the one hand as solo cellist for Hollywood films such as Captain Phillips, Twelve Years A Slave and Inferno, and on the other hand as composer for numerous ORF television productions. Since 2020 Tristan Schulze is chief conductor of the Vienna Concert Association.
World Premiere Red Bull Aerobatic Triple
At AIRPOWER22, the Flying Bulls will present an aerobatic world premiere that seems to defy the laws of physics. In the “Red Bull Aerobatic Triple”, airplanes, helicopters and wingsuit jumpers will meet for the first time in a precisely choreographed interplay. The aerobatic BO-105, the legendary “Cobra” as well as the historic PT-17 Stearman and the Zivko Edge 540 will be in action. For months the pilots of the Flying Bulls and the skydivers of the “Red Bull Skydive Team” as well as the “HSV-Red Bull Salzburg” have been planning and rehearsing for their spectacular performance in the sky above Zeltweg. Spectators can look forward to two opportunities to watch the performance of the pilots and skydivers during AIRPOWER22. “The idea for the Red Bull Aerobatic Triple was born two years ago, since then we have been rehearsing and refining the choreography on a regular basis. It will be a unique display of airplanes and helicopters of different generations – and of course of the skydivers and wingsuit pilots!”, Flying Bull’s helicopter chief pilot Siegfried “Blacky” Schwarz is pleased.
The Red Bull Aerobatic Triple – an aerobatic world premiere that seems to defy the laws of physics
