Pilot Careers
I Get Paid for This…
Raimund Riedmann In charge of one of the most exceptional historic aircraft collections in the world plus a whole array of GA aircraft, Raimund Riedmann flies them all. Interview by Yayeri van Baarsen
How did you get into flying?
I’ve always been obsessed with aircraft. When I was three years old we lived near Innsbruck Airport and as soon as I heard a noise, I’d go outside and look up to the sky. I started building model aircraft when I was 10, and at I first soloed in a glider when I was 16. Tell us about your job?
I’m chief pilot for the Flying Bulls. My job consists of airshow flying and executive flying. Normally, airshows are at weekends, and from Monday to Thursday we fly Red Bull athletes and higher management all over Flying CV Europe. There’s also paperwork involved, Flight operations manager and which I try to do when the weather is bad. chief pilot fixed-wing for the Red The airshows are the icing on the cake. Bull Flying Bulls We have such a beautiful fleet, with unique Now flying: Fleet includes DC-6B, P-38, aircraft like the P-38, Corsair, DC-6, B-25... F4U-4, Su-29, T-34, Falcon 900, Honda Jet Even more special is that we get to truly fly Favourite aircraft: P-38 Lightning. “She’s unique, wonderful to fly and kind of ‘my’ them in three dimensions. With modern aircraft during the routine. I’m so used to the aeroplanes, it’s about managing the aircraft, P-38 that it sometimes feels like I have a but with vintage ones, you really need flying relationship with this aircraft.” skills. Aerobatics is finding the balance Year/hours at job start: 2000/ 5,000 Hours now: 15,000 between demonstrating nice manoeuvres and not going over the edge. Each year we develop a new routine, this year the warbirds and Alpha Jets fly in formation before doing their own thing. favourite flight was to Duxford in 2011. Ever since the first time I I get such joy from showing these aircraft to the public. It visited, aged 15, on a school trip, Duxford holds a special place in allows me to meet great people who share this obsession. An my heart. It’s where I heard the start-up of a radial engine on a enthusiast myself, I love hanging around after the show, talking B-25 for the first time, surrounded by vintage aircraft. All the about old aircraft. It’s not just a profession, it’s one of the most overwhelming emotions of that trip came back when landing important things in my life. Even the executive flying never feels there in the Lightning. like work – it’s still a privilege. If you think of flying as just a job, you’re not right for the Flying Bulls. And your favourite airfield? Salzburg of course! It’s our base, with hangar 7 and 8. What training did you have? Otherwise, I prefer small airfields over big anonymous airports. I After working as a flight instructor, in 1995 I became a co-pilot love visiting tiny airfields, meeting nice people and sometimes on the Falcon 10 for Tyrolean Jet Service, mainly in discovering a gorgeous Tiger Moth in the hangar. Usually I end ambulance service. Having to plan everything on my own and up staying much longer than planned. fly all over the world without much notice taught me to be flexible. In 2000, I got a chance to fly for Red Bull. When a Do you fly much outside of work? few months later they offered me a job, I didn’t hesitate for Not as much as I’d like to. I have a small 1940s Globe Swift that I even a second. Most of our pilots have a military background fly once a month. Ideally, I’d fly it every week. However, when I or are already experienced aerobatic pilots. Ongoing training get home after being around aircraft all day, it’s a bit hard is also important. Every year, we start with a display training explaining to my family that I’m going flying again. Family time camp in Maribor before heading with the entire team to is also important, it’s about finding the right balance. Alaska, where our DC-6 simulator is located, to train and develop procedures, like a think tank. What is your most valuable career advice? Stick to your ideas. If you really want to fly warbirds, you have to What’s been your favourite flight? believe it’s going to happen. I was so obsessed with these aircraft, I loved flying the Lightning through the fjords for the Norwegian that I put all my energy towards flying them. Be truly devoted to celebration of 100 years of military aviation. However, my your aviation dreams and you’ll probably succeed.
“It’s not just a profession, it’s one of the most important things in my life”
18 | FLYER | February 2021
