Flying Bulls Announce First-Ever Transatlantic Mission to Oshkosh
The Flying Bulls have confirmed a historic milestone: for the first time in the organisation’s history, their flagship Douglas DC-6B and iconic Lockheed P-38 Lightning will cross the Atlantic to appear at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The announcement was delivered in a new video update released on the team’s social channels by Flying Bulls CEO and display pilot Eskil Amdal.
This marks the first Atlantic crossing for the Flying Bulls as a unified force with their two most recognisable aircraft. Both will depart Hangar-7 for a multi-stage ferry to North America, where they will join the world’s largest aviation gathering. For many enthusiasts, this will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see two of Europe’s most distinctive warbirds perform together on American soil.
The Flying Bulls DC-6 glowing in the BIAS 2025 sunset during its elegant evening display.
The DC-6B: A Rare Airliner Ready for a New Frontier
The Flying Bulls’ 1958 Douglas DC-6B is among the finest surviving examples of the type anywhere in the world. Built during the final years of piston-engined long-range airliners, the DC-6 family once connected continents before the jet age, and the Flying Bulls’ machine carries a particularly rich history.
This airframe originally served as a VIP transport for Yugoslavia’s President Josip Broz Tito, equipped with an executive interior for government travel. It later transferred to Zambia, where it continued its role as a state aircraft before spending years in outdoor storage.
The Flying Bulls acquired the DC-6B in the early 2000s and initiated an extensive restoration. The process went far beyond cosmetic work: the aircraft received a near-complete overhaul of its systems, including renewed wiring, overhauled Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines, and a cockpit upgraded to modern IFR standards. While the aircraft retains its original charm—four radial engines, analogue gauges and classic Douglas lines—it now incorporates contemporary navigation and communication equipment, allowing it to operate safely in modern airspace.
It has since become one of the most recognisable historic airliners flying in Europe, regularly performing at airshows, long-distance tours and formation appearances. The upcoming mission marks its first transatlantic flight under Flying Bulls operation, and its role as the logistical and navigational centrepiece of the journey underscores its reliability and long-range capability.
The P-38 Lightning: A Masterpiece of Restoration Returns to Its Homeland
Joining the DC-6B on the crossing is the Flying Bulls’ Lockheed P-38 Lightning “N25Y”, widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautifully maintained examples of the type. The P-38 is an American-designed twin-boom fighter that rose to fame during the Second World War for its speed, firepower and distinctive silhouette. Surviving airworthy Lightnings are extremely rare, and the Flying Bulls’ aircraft has become a standout presence at European events.
The Flying Bulls’ P-38 underwent a comprehensive restoration before entering the Hangar-7 fleet, including structural work, polished metal finishing, and meticulous attention to original systems. Its graceful, mirror-like exterior has become synonymous with the team’s high presentation standards.
In operation, the Lightning demonstrates the aerodynamic efficiency that made it famous: counter-rotating Allison engines, long-span wings and a central nacelle housing the cockpit and armament. It is one of the only piston fighters capable of sustained high-speed cruising over significant distances, though transatlantic ferrying still requires careful planning and support.
While the aircraft has flown widely across Europe, this trip represents a significant moment in its modern life—a return to the United States, where the type’s engineering and wartime legacy originated. For many American enthusiasts, its appearance at Oshkosh will be a rare opportunity to see one of the best-preserved Lightnings in existence arrive under its own power rather than by cargo shipment.
Topside pass from the P-38 at Malta 2023.
Oshkosh: A Global Stage for a Global Mission
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the pinnacle of aviation gatherings, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and thousands of aircraft from around the world. The addition of the Flying Bulls’ DC-6B and P-38 will introduce an unmistakable European presence on the showgrounds, bringing together historic American engineering, Austrian stewardship and decades of meticulous restoration.
Their participation will also highlight the long-distance operational capability of both aircraft—a classic airliner and a rare fighter—still flown actively by a team committed to preserving the highest standards of airworthiness and display excellence.
The DC-6 during its Midlands Air Festival appearance, 2024.
A Milestone for the Flying Bulls
The upcoming transatlantic mission represents one of the most significant undertakings in Flying Bulls history. It brings together years of technical investment, international display experience and the cohesive operation of two aircraft that embody the best of piston-engined aviation.
For European audiences, it symbolises a remarkable achievement for a team known for precision, authenticity and presentation quality. For American audiences, it promises an exceptional and rarely seen pairing—two icons of aviation heritage arriving not as museum pieces, but as fully functioning, display-ready aircraft making the journey across the Atlantic under their own power.
Further updates on routing, schedules and public appearances will follow as the Flying Bulls continue to release new information.
