Dario
Costa
Italy
·
Aerobatic Flying
Date of birth | 9 May 1980 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Bologna |
Age | 46 |
Nationality | Italy |
Career start | 2001 |
Disciplines | Aerobatic airshows |
Dario Costa made his first solo flight at the age of 16, having developed a fascination with flying as a child. He took his interest seriously enough to study physics at university, then graduated to a job as an apprentice in an aerospace engineering company. At the of age 21, he began teaching aerodynamics in his former high school, as well as pilot theory courses at the Bologna’s flying club, L'Aeroclub di Bologna.
In 2003 he saw a Red Bull Air Race video and was so captivated that he decided to focus on acrobatic flying. He said, “I will never forget that moment. In less than a second an obsession took over everything else.” Once he’d mastered the techniques he taught them in Italian flying schools from 2008 to 2013, making him the youngest acrobatic flight instructor in Italy.
In 2011 Costa was the Contest Director for the 26th World Aerobatic Championships, held in Foligno, Italy. In 2013 he moved to Salzburg to join the Red Bull Air Race team as Flight Operations Manager and development pilot on the Extra 330LX and Zivko Edge 540. In 2016 he realised a dream when he became the first Italian to get the Red Bull Air Race Super License. In 2017 he was part of the elite Flying Bulls aerobatic display team.
In 2018, 15 years after watching that fateful first race, Costa's 'obsession' became a reality as he made his debut in Red Bull Air Race's Challenger Class, becoming the first Italian pilot ever to do so and claiming his first podium place in only his second race.
The following year, he made history when he became the first pilot to perform and include in his display routine a barrel roll in formation flight together with a helicopter (flown by Mirko Flaim).
In over 20 years of flying, Costa has clocked more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 60 different aeroplane models (check out his epic Formula One-inspired flight that featured in 2020’s Drum the Bull).
As an aerobatic stunt pilot, Costa has pulled off an array of incredible feats over the years, including his 2021 Tunnel Pass and the legendary Streif course preview four years later. In 2026, Costa added another world-first to his list of accolades, when he landed his plane on a moving train in Türkiye, then took-off again.
His favourite aircraft is the Zivko Edge 540, which he uses for competitions and performances.
A triumphant moment for Dario Costa
© Mahmut Cinci/Red Bull Content Pool
Dario Costa coming in for a historic landing
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
High-speed precision touchdown by Dario Costa
© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool
Dario Costa nails the take-off
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool