Red Bull Athlete Lands Plane on Moving Train in Historic Feat

In a groundbreaking achievement, Red Bull athlete Dario Costa (Italy) successfully landed and took off from a moving cargo train in Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye, on February 15, 2026. This marks the first time in aviation history that a plane has both landed on and vertically taken off from a moving train.

A Daring Dual Maneuver

Costa piloted his Zivko Edge 540 aircraft onto the ninth cargo container of a train traveling at 120 km/h (65 knots). He then executed a vertical pull take-off from the same container, completing the maneuver within a 50-second window along a 2.5 km railway section. Red Bull announced the successful completion of this unprecedented feat on February 16, 2026.

Technical and Aerodynamic Challenges

The landing required precise speed matching, with Costa reducing his aircraft’s speed to 87 km/h (47 knots) to align with the train’s maximum operational speed. The approach and landing were particularly challenging due to the limited visibility of the landing platform and the turbulent airflow generated by the moving train. Continuous aerodynamic corrections were necessary to maintain stability.

Aircraft Specifications

The Zivko Edge 540 used for the stunt is a mid-wing, single-seat, piston-engine aircraft powered by a 400-horsepower engine. It has a wingspan of 7.5 meters and a length of 7 meters, with a landing gear width of 1.70 meters. No major structural modifications were made to the aircraft, but the setup was optimized for lower-speed flight using custom strakes and vortex generators.

Preparation and Testing

The project involved extensive planning and testing, beginning in early 2024 with simulations and controlled tests to replicate landing dynamics. Prior to the Türkiye execution, a three-day mobile platform scenario was tested in Pula, Croatia, in collaboration with Rimac Automobili, utilizing their Nevera R hypercar as a precision moving platform reference.

Costa’s Reflections

“Train Landing was one of the most challenging and demanding projects of my career,” said Costa. “There were so many variables to measure, but the biggest test was learning to land blindly on a very modest moving runway, relying only on cognitive and flight skills.”

Aviation Milestone

This achievement represents a significant advancement in aerodynamics and pilot coordination, demonstrating the possibilities of controlled flight in non-traditional environments. Costa previously made history with a flight through a tunnel in Türkiye in 2021, and this latest feat builds upon his legacy of pushing the boundaries of aviation.

Dario Costa: A History of Firsts

Dario Costa is an Italian pilot renowned for his precision flying and complex aviation projects. He has achieved over 20 aviation firsts, including the Tunnel Pass and a preview flight of the Streif course. He is the first Italian to compete and win in the Red Bull Air Race and the youngest recipient of the Bob Hoover Freedom of Flight Award. He currently holds five Guinness World Records.