Red Bull Finally Releases Full F4U-4 Corsair Airshow Performance During Flygfesten 2025

A Historic Warbird Returns to the European Sky

The full airshow performance of the Red Bull Flying Bulls’ F4U-4 Corsair at Flygfesten 2025 has finally been released, giving aviation fans a closer look at one of the rarest flying fighters still operating in Europe today. The appearance drew strong attention not only because of the aircraft’s history, but also because only a small number of Corsairs remain airworthy worldwide. At present, roughly fifteen examples survive globally, with only a few regularly flying across European airshows.

Originally designed by Chance Vought in the late 1930s, the Corsair was built with speed and efficiency in mind. Engineers shaped the aircraft carefully to reduce air resistance, using smooth metal surfaces and flush rivets long before computer-aided design existed. Its prototype first flew in 1938, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 eighteen-cylinder radial engine producing around 2,000 horsepower. The engine’s size and strength gave the aircraft both impressive speed and a deep, unmistakable sound that still defines its presence during modern displays.

Engineering That Defined the Corsair

One of the Corsair’s most recognizable features is its inverted gull wing. The unusual shape allowed engineers to fit a massive four-meter propeller while keeping the landing gear shorter and stronger for carrier operations. Hydraulic Fowler flaps improved lift and control, while retractable landing gear disappeared neatly into the fuselage, reflecting the aircraft’s advanced engineering for its time. Early versions already reached speeds near 670 kilometers per hour, while later upgrades pushed performance even further.

The F4U-4 variant introduced improvements such as water injection, which cooled the engine internally and allowed more efficient combustion. These upgrades helped raise top speed close to 700 kilometers per hour by the early 1950s. Designed mainly for naval aviation, the aircraft also featured folding wings powered by hydraulic pressure between 900 and 1200 psi, allowing crews to store more planes aboard crowded carriers. During wartime service, it operated with both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and later remained active during the Korean War, where piston fighters occasionally faced early jet aircraft.

Flygfesten and the Modern Flying Display

Flygfesten, held in Dala-Järna, Sweden, ranks among Northern Europe’s largest civilian-organized airshows, attracting tens of thousands of visitors during each edition. Organized by the Västerdalarnas Aero Club, the event has been staged every three to four years since its relaunch in 1986. The show blends aviation history with festival entertainment, combining flying demonstrations with evening music and public gatherings designed to bring aviation closer to local communities.

The Flying Bulls, based in Salzburg, Austria, maintain one of the world’s best-known collections of restored historic aircraft and regularly tour Europe with carefully preserved machines. Their Corsair, delivered to the U.S. Navy in 1945 and later restored for civilian flight, remains fully aerobatic despite its age. Even decades after its first flight, the aircraft can still perform demanding maneuvers and reach speeds approaching 750 kilometers per hour during controlled demonstrations.

At Flygfesten 2025, pilot Eskil Amdal flew the Corsair across all three show days, presenting tight turns, low passes, and classic warbird maneuvers that highlighted both power and precision. The newly released footage captures not only the aircraft’s performance but also the continuing effort to keep historic aviation alive through careful restoration and public display.