Red Bull is heralding its latest airplane stunt as a major accomplishment, but they could have asked U.S. airshow performer Kent Pietsch for pointers. The pride of Minot, North Dakota, landed his Interstate Cadet on a platform on top of a moving truck for decades as part of his “stolen airplane” comedy routine. All jokes aside, it’s an impressive display of stick and rudder skill that Pietsch makes look easy. Pietsch retired from the airshow circuit in 2023. It was perhaps inevitable that the stunt would be copied and Red Bull did so with an added touch that allowed them to claim a “world first.” Red Bull video below:
Earlier this month Italian pilot Dario Costa set his Zivko Edge 540 on the top of a moving train in Turkey. Admittedly, the Edge is a lot twitchier than the Cadet and the stunt was performed at about 65 knots, pretty slow for the speedy aerobatic plane. Costa stuck the landing and then took off again, the extra touch that allowed the blaring headline. Pietsch locks the wheels of the Cadet onto a recessed trap on the specially designed platform, essentially taxiing the plane into position on the moving truck so he could catch a ride to show center to address the crowd. He took the plane off from the platform after all the crowds went home. Ken Pietsch video below:
Same stunt… different paint job.
Tired of Red Bull. Hey, maybe I need to drink one.
At least the Cub stayed on the truck for a few seconds, the Red Bull just bounced off the train.
Kent landed an 800lb, 65 hp Interstate Cadet, often with only one aileron, on a moving pickup truck platform with the aerodynamics of a brick.
Red Bull bounces a 300hp+, 1600lb carbon fiber, precise controlled aerobatic missle on a well ventilated so called train for improved “aerodynamics”, and herald’s this stunt as a major accomplishment. Yeah, Red Bull did accomplish a major “stunt”. No comparison to outstanding airmanship combined with equally outstanding showmanship performed safely for decades in front of millions globally, in an 75+ year old airplane. A few minutes of YT video fame vs a legacy of safe airmanship performed over decades in front of millions. I call Kent’s flying a major accomplishment. Red Bull’s “stunt”? Just another Red Bull stunt.