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Red Bull Pilots to Attempt Midair Aircraft Swap

In Arizona this weekend, they’ll attempt to switch airplanes during free-fall. Here’s how it will work.

Pilots train and test dive in San Luis Obispo in preparation for the Plane Swap live feat on April 24, 2022. [Photo: Michael Clark / Red Bull Content Pool}
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Key Takeaways:

  • Red Bull Air Force pilots Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington will attempt the first dual midair plane swap on April 24th in Arizona.
  • The stunt involves the pilots flying specially modified Cessna 182s to 14,000 feet, putting them into a dive, exiting their own aircraft, and then swapping to the other plane.
  • Engineers designed specialized speed brakes and an autopilot system to stabilize the unmanned aircraft at a constant 120 mph freefall speed during the swap, preventing overspeed or collisions.
  • This ambitious and unprecedented stunt by the cousins draws on a long family history in skydiving and piloting, building on previous Red Bull aerial feats and reminiscent of daring movie sequences.
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Formation flying and skydiving are done everyday. But thus far, no one has combined formation flying and skydiving with the intent to switch airplanes at altitude. That could change on April 24, when Red Bull Air Force pilots and skydivers Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington, both flying solo, will attempt to swap airplanes in midair.

The Red Bull Air Force is made up of some of the most skilled and experienced pilots and skydivers in the world. The organization performs precision aerial demonstrations at air shows and sporting events and produces slick videos of pilots and skydivers seemingly defying—or at least challenging—the laws of physics. 

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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