Red Bull pilot lands aircraft, takes off from moving train in Turkey

A Red Bull pilot completed what organizers described as a world-first aviation maneuver on Sunday. Daria Costa, an Italian aerobatic pilot and Red Bull athlete, landed his Zivko Edge 540 on a moving train before he took off again from the same platform. The maneuver took place in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Costa landed the aircraft traveling approximately 65 knots, then performed a vertical pull takeoff from the moving train, according to Red Bull. The full stunt, including approach, landing, and takeoff, was completed within 50 seconds along a 2.5-kilometer stretch of railway. To match the train's speed, Costa slowed the aircraft to approximately 47 knots, near its minimum controllable airspeed. The landing occurred on the ninth cargo container of the train. During the final approach, Costa could not see the landing surface due to the aircraft's nose-high attitude and the height of the train, requiring precise aerodynamic adjustments to maintain alignment, according to Red Bull. The Zivko Edge 540 is a single-seat aerobatic aircraft powered by a 400-horsepower piston engine. It has a wingspan of about 24.6 feet and a length of about 23 feet. The aircraft was modified with custom aerodynamic components, including vortex generators and strakes, to improve low-speed handling. No major structural changes were made. Costa and his team spent months preparing for the attempt, conducting aerodynamic simulations, flight testing, and specialized training focused on timing, anticipation, and aircraft control. A three-day moving-platform test was conducted in Croatia to refine the landing and takeoff procedures. "Train Landing was one of the most challenging and demanding projects of my career," said Costa. "Landing blind on a very small moving runway required complete focus on cognitive and flying skills. It was a complex project that required precision, teamwork, and trust." Organizers said the maneuver marked the first time an aircraft has landed and taken off from a moving train traveling at full operational speed. RELATED ARTICLES:Red Bull Air Force to make first appearance at Cleveland National Air ShowNTSB releases final report on Red Bull plane swap crashWATCH: Red Bull pilot lands plane on Dubai skyscraper