PREVIEW

Red Bull Air Race pilot Dario Costa has pushed the boundaries of aviation by flying down the legendary Streif ski run in Kitzbühel, Austria.

Reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h in his Zivko Edge 540 aircraft, Costa's feat comes ahead of the 85th Hahnenkamm races this weekend.
The Italian pilot, 44, has been obsessed with aviation since childhood and in recent years has dedicated himself to setting new aviation records, most notably with his 2021 Tunnel Pass project in Turkey, which saw him achieve five world records.

Costa’s latest challenge saw him attempt the first-ever flight along the Streif, one of the most demanding downhill ski courses in the world. The 3,312-metre-long course features an 860-metre elevation drop from the start gate at 1,665 metres above sea level. Its infamous sections include the Mausefalle (Mousetrap), Steilhang (Steep Slope), Alte Schneise (Old Clearing), Hausbergkante (Hausberg Edge), and the final jump into the finish.

Speaking about the challenge, Costa said: “This is a world first, which is why I love it so much. Like all world firsts, the challenge is that you have no previous data to study. You have no experience. Whatever you prepare for, there is always a big question mark. Records can be broken, but world firsts will live forever.”

Before the historic flight could take place, Costa’s Flying Bulls project team had to secure permits, conduct risk assessments, and calculate the necessary ballistic trajectories and flight path strategies to ensure a safe operation over the closed course.

Flying as close as possible to the ski slope, Costa experienced g-forces exceeding 10g while negotiating the course’s steep gradients, including sections with an 85 percent incline. The flight required absolute precision—flying too fast would have meant an excessive turning radius, while flying too slowly risked stalling during the manoeuvres.

Costa explained: “Already flying level over mountains is challenging, but doing it with gradients of 85 degrees downhill is a new game. First, I had to learn the course by heart. Unlike a Red Bull Air Race course, which is designed for full-power speeds of over 370 km/h without adjustment, I had to modify my power output for each turn to avoid obstacles. At the same time, I had to ensure I didn’t stall or exceed 12g, which is the aircraft’s maximum limit.”

The flight included two particularly demanding manoeuvres—passing through the Red Bull arch at the Hausbergkante and the finishing arch (Audi Bogen)—both requiring split-second reactions.

“The manoeuvres were extremely difficult, not just due to the steepness, but also because the arches were very low, putting me even closer to the ground,” Costa added. “The lack of depth perception was also a huge challenge, as almost everything on the Streif was white. It was an enormous test for me as a pilot.”

Among those witnessing the historic feat was 2001 Super-G World Champion Daron Rahlves, a veteran alpine skier with 12 World Cup race victories, including the Downhill on the Streif in 2003.
Rahlves, 51, was in awe of Costa’s achievement: “Watching Dario fly through the air and seeing how precise and dynamic he is was incredible. It’s a full-blown race machine in the air. Anytime I get to ski down the Streif is an amazing feeling. To take it to the next level and bring Dario into the mix with the plane, seeing and feeling him rip by, was probably the best run ever. It rocked me to the core.”