Watch Video6 min
Aerobatic Flying

These are 5 of the most fearless flights you'll ever see

Let's take a moment to revisit some of the most skilful, nerveless and downright jaw-dropping aviation moments ever to have graced US skies.
Written by Benjamin Saldias
3 min readPublished on
Skydivers, wingsuit athletes and aerobatic pilots are all known for pushing the boundaries of flight and making the seemingly impossible possible - whether in a plane, a helicopter or with their own bodies. While most would categorise them as risk-takers, in fact, they're calculated professionals, using testing, training and skill to perform their amazing feats.
In the coming weeks, two of these calculated professionals – Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington – will introduce a new project that looks to accomplish something that's never been done before. The feat will be streamed live exclusively on Hulu in the US and on Red Bull TV in the rest of the world.

The Original Red Bull

Red Bull Energy Drink

Red Bull Energy Drink
Before the new project is announced, however, let's blast to the past with five feats that took place above New York, Florida, Utah, California and Arizona.
See history being made: watch Plane Swap live right here
01

Flying a helicopter upside down over NYC

Red Bull Aerobatic Helicopter Pilot, Aaron Fitzgerald, performs flips, barrel rolls and nose dives in front of the Statue of Liberty during the morning hours on May 18, 2019.

Aaron Fitzgerald, flips, barrel rolls and nose dives in New York City

© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool

Loops, barrel rolls, back and front flips - helicopter pilot Aaron Fitzgerald performed them all while casually waving at the Statue of Liberty in New York City. Even 'seen-it-all' New Yorkers stood dumbfounded, and many grabbed their phones to capture the astonishing Bo-105 helicopter's manoeuvres themselves.
02

Sky surfing in a thunderstorm

1 min

Chasing Lightning: Skysurfing in a thundercloud

Find out what happens when Sean MacCormac dives into the edge of a storm.

A south-western Florida thunderstorm meets its match: Sean MacCormac. Emboldened by the growing turbulence in the sky, MacCormac performed something he'd only dreamed of: sky surfing through the heavy rain clouds and lightning strikes of an active storm.
03

Aviation chain reaction

6 min

Chain Reaction

The Red Bull Air Force provides a snapshot of the amazing possibilities that arise when humans take flight.

Next up, we're heading to Utah to showcase eight different aviation disciplines in one single aerial coordination. The continuous sequence built up to one massive chain reaction that featured skydiving, wingsuit flying, BASE jumping and overall aerobatic precision.
The day was made possible by skydivers and high-speed parachute flyers Jeff Provenzano and Luke Aikins; wingsuit pilots Jon DeVore, Mike Swanson and Andy Farrington; BASE jumpers Miles Daisher and Charles Bryan; and pilot Kirby Chambliss, with Sean MacCormac handling coordination from the ground.
04

The LA supermoon flight

Mike Swanson wingsuit fly through downtown Los Angeles on 20 March, 2019.

The trio light up the LA sky during the supermoon

© Michael Clark/Red Bull Content Pool

March 20, 2019: Los Angelenos began reporting strange lights in the skies. Was it a rocket? A comet? Alien invasion? None of the above. It was actually the wingsuited trio of Jon DeVore, Mike Swanson and Andy Farrington commemorating the final supermoon of the decade with a jump from a helicopter high above downtown Los Angeles in lighted wingsuits, streaking across the sky and leaving a trail of sparks that made national news.
05

Arizona training camp

When everyone comes together, progression is the name of the game. Check out what the team, including special guest Felix Baumgartner (the living legend who successfully jumped from the edge of space in the first-ever supersonic freefall), were up to. In addition to Baumgartner, who stepped in to pilot the team's aerobatic helicopter, top-tier wingsuit pilots, BASE jumpers, skydivers and aerobatic pilots were in attendance.
See history being made: watch Plane Swap live right here
Download the free Red Bull TV app and catch the next flight on all your devices! Get the app here.

Part of this story

Plane Swap

Experienced skydivers and pilots Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington attempted a feat 10-years in the making, to become the first pilots to swap planes unassisted. The feat was partially accomplished.

United States

Jon DeVore

Red Bull Air Force manager Jon DeVore has logged more than 22,000 skydives BASE jumps and wingsuit flights, as well as spots in several Hollywood movies.

United StatesUnited States

Kirby Chambliss

A Red Bull Air Race World Champion, Kirby Chambliss, who hails from Texas, is regarded as one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world.

United StatesUnited States

Aaron Fitzgerald

A member of the The Flying Bulls, Aaron Fitzgerald is an American aerobatic pilot who's worked on hundreds of films and TV shows.

United StatesUnited States

Sean MacCormac

Multiple US National Champion, X Games medallist and world record setter Sean MacCormac is a skydiving legend, whose limits know no bounds.

United StatesUnited States

Jeffrey Provenzano

Jeff 'Jeffro' Provenzano is a member of the Red Bull Air Force team, but is perhaps best known for inventing incredible stunts such as 'The Miracle Man'.

United StatesUnited States

Luke Aikins

Breaking boundaries is second nature to American skydiver and pilot Luke Aikins.

United StatesUnited States

Mike Swanson

The undisputed king of the skies, American Mike Swanson is a pioneer of freeflying and an incredibly skilled aerial stuntman.

United StatesUnited States

Andy Farrington

American Andy Farrington is one of the true kings of the skies with many thousands of skydives and BASE jumps to his name.

United StatesUnited States

Miles Daisher

Miles is so passionate about his sport that he's pushing its limits by creating new aspects, including skyaking and rope-swing BASE jumping.

United StatesUnited States

Felix Baumgartner

Felix Baumgartner will forever be the man who fell from space – indelibly linked with the moment when he jumped from a capsule nearly 40km above the New Mexico desert and the world held its breath.

AustriaAustria