Episode 100: Red Bull Gives You Wings. Maintainers Keep Them Flying | Flying Bulls - Part I

The Vertical MRO Podcast welcomes Anthony Hill and Werner Horvath from the Red Bull Flying Bulls.To celebrate episode 100 we recorded remotely with the Red Bull Flying Bulls maintenance team, they were on the floor of Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria, we participated from our studio.Anthony Hill and Werner Horvat join hosts Jon Gray and Faith Ortega for a wide‑ranging conversation about what it takes to keep one of the world’s most elite and unique fleets operational.We dig into restoring rare vintage aircraft like the S‑58, P‑51 and DC‑6, covering the challenges of sourcing one‑off parts, certification, and re‑engineering, and share the Cobra recovery/restoration story. We also explore maintaining aerobatic rotorcraft (BO‑105), how acrobatic flight changes maintenance programs and life limits, and the special logistics and crew requirements for airshow operations.The conversation unpacks the challenges of operating across multiple regulatory systems (Austrian/EASA and FAA) and explains the role of their National Design Organization. We discuss creative parts sourcing, in‑house manufacturing and prototyping, and how emerging MRO technologies 3D scanning/printing, digital manuals, and AI are starting to help solve long‑standing problems.We discuss the state of the workforce through apprenticeships, recruitment and retention, preserving tribal knowledge, and building a strong safety culture. Throughout the episode Anthony and Werner share practical career advice focused on continuous learning, stepping out of your comfort zone, and the soft skills that matter.The conversation is capped by a hangar tour and aircraft close‑ups. This is an episode to watch on YouTube for the full experience.Bonus announcement: the Flying Bulls will bring the DC‑6 and P‑38 Lightning to AirVenture Oshkosh this July 2026 crossing the Atlantic for the first time since joining the fleet  with a BO‑105 also appearing with the Red Bull Air Force. Stay tuned after the episode for a special closing segment with the Flying Bulls team.Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Rotorcraft Support Inc and Precision Aviation Group.Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!