Austria’s legendary Red Bull Flying Bulls are making history. They’ll debut in America at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, bringing a restored Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Douglas DC-6B across the Atlantic—the most significant transatlantic mission in the organization’s history.
The announcement came December 10, 2025, during the International Council of Air Shows convention in Las Vegas. Both warbirds will depart Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria, and stage through the United Kingdom, Iceland, Newfoundland, and Canada before reaching Wisconsin for the world’s largest air show, July 20–26, 2026.
“The moment has arrived — we are crossing the Atlantic and we’re coming to Oshkosh,” said Eskil Ambal, CEO of The Flying Bulls. “Our ride across the Atlantic is in a DC-6, just as she was meant to do. But we couldn’t let her go alone. You never, ever, ever leave your wingman. So the P-38 is coming with her.”
A Rare Twin-Tail Fighter Comes Home
The P-38 is something special. Designated F-5G-6-LO, this photo-reconnaissance variant ranks among only 10 airworthy P-38s remaining worldwide—of the 10,037 Lockheed produced during World War II, just 26 survive. More striking: it’s the only airworthy P-38 currently operating in Europe.
The aircraft spent decades racing at Reno as “White Lightning” after WWII pilot Marvin “Lefty” Gardner bought it in 1963. An engine fire forced a crash-landing in a Mississippi cotton field in 2001, causing substantial damage. The Flying Bulls acquired the damaged airframe in 2007 and spent three years restoring it to better-than-new condition.
“We’re bringing her back home,” said Simon Pircher, the Flying Bulls’ head of projects and events, “and we’re giving fans a complete P-38 display — something you almost never see in America.”
The DC-6B — A Statesman’s Transport
The Douglas DC-6B, built in 1958, has a equally remarkable past. Originally ordered for Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, it later served Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda before sitting abandoned at Lusaka Airport. The Flying Bulls rescued it in 2000 and completed a three-year restoration—new Pratt & Whitney R-2800 “Double-Wasp” engines, entirely rebuilt interior, the works.
The DC-6B still flies today. It handles both airshow appearances and luxury charter operations, maintaining its original role as a presidential transport. At Oshkosh, both aircraft will be displayed on Boeing Plaza and fly during afternoon airshow programs throughout the week.
Logistics and Logistics Again
The transatlantic route reflects deliberate planning around the P-38’s limited range. The team chose to operate both aircraft together across multiple stages—likely through the United Kingdom, then Iceland and Newfoundland—rather than risk separation over open ocean.
This represents an extraordinary undertaking for an organization founded by Tyrolean Airlines pilot Sigi Angerer in the 1980s and formalized as The Flying Bulls in 1999 with backing from Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. The collection now spans over 40 aircraft—from World War II fighters to modern helicopters—but has never attempted a transatlantic crossing before.
Rick Larsen, EAA Vice President, emphasized the moment: “These airplanes are among the finest restorations of their type anywhere on earth, so an Oshkosh stop was a necessity during their American tour to showcase them among the knowledgeable aviation community at AirVenture.”
Oshkosh 2026 marks the Flying Bulls’ only U.S. airshow appearance this year. With rumors suggesting at least three P-38s may attend the event, the presence of this sole European example will draw particular attention from the estimated one million visitors expected at the Wisconsin fly-in.
Sources
- EAA AirVenture Air Show Performers — EAA Official
- Red Bull Flying Bulls Official Announcement — December 10, 2025
- International Council of Air Shows Convention Press Release — Las Vegas, Nevada
Leave a Reply