Ludwig Reiter

Waterflying as a passion

Story

Every time he climbs into the cockpit, Ludwig Reiter knows that dreams do come true.

The boy from Bad Ischl began dreaming of flying at the age of seven. That dream would take him to the deepest African bush, the highest airfields of the Himalayas, across the Atlantic (several times) in a single-engine plane and ultimately to the Flying Bulls team where he can apply the full range of his expertise. He has flown business jets, the Caravan, the T-34 Mentor, the Observer and, most recently, the B-25 at the biggest air shows Europe has to offer.

Interview

Ludwig, what do you think is the grand vision of the Flying Bulls?

LR: Our vision is to keep our aeroplanes in the sky for the benefit of generations to come. The hangar must never become just a museum. The Corsair, the Lightning, the DC-6, the Cobra and all the rest must keep on flying so that the people who see them will be inspired and dream of flying them too.

Is that a dream you are familiar with?

LR: Yes, and I’m living my dream! Since I first had that dream in 1991, everything else came second. I was seven years old when a friend of my father took me up in a powered glider at a festival in Gmunden. We sat there in tandem formation! I was a fan of the first Top Gun film, so this was really exciting, a sheer sense of jet-set joy. This defining moment happened on a Sunday. On the Monday I knew I would be a pilot.

How was your journey to the cockpit?

LR: It was full of diversions. I had to earn money first if I wanted to learn flying, so I took an apprenticeship as a chef and waiter. I got my powered glider licence at 17, before I’d even learned to drive. After my apprenticeship I kept working as hard as I could, and with the help of my parents and my grandmother, I was able to carry on to complete my CPL (commercial pilot licence).

During those years, what was your aim with regards to flying? What did you want to achieve?

LR: Fortunately for me, my dreams were clearly defined. There were four points on my bucket list: I wanted to explore the African continent as a bush pilot, and I wanted to cross the Atlantic like Charles Lindberg. I had read about a flight through the peaks of the Himalayas in a Tintin adventure called ‘Tim and Struppi’, so I wanted to try that too. Oh yes, there was also the Flying Bulls Caravan which I saw land at Lake Wolfgang, so at some point I wanted to join the team as well.

How many of these points have you managed to achieve?

LR: All of them! First I headed for Africa, or Maun in Botswana to be precise, with a one-way ticket and around $1,000 in my pocket. From there I flew out into the bush every day in a Cessna 206, taking people and food to the lodges and taking away the rubbish. I later did the same in a Cessna Caravan. Between the big herds of wild animals and lions on the landing strip, I couldn’t have been happier. At some point, I heard on the grapevine that someone was looking to start up a Caravan operation in Nepal, but had neither pilots nor aeroplanes. The idea was to bring the aircraft from the USA first, then to deliver food and water to some of the highest airfields in the world for the UN World Food Programme. As for the next two points on my bucket list, I went on to gain my ATPL (airline transport pilot licence) in Austria, and spent 10 years in business aviation. Then one day I got a call from Raimund Riedmann which changed everything. He said that even though I wasn’t a warbird pilot, I covered most of the bases for the Flying Bulls thanks to my seaplane skills, bush flying, Caravan experience and my 10 years on business jets. The rest is history.

Alongside the business jets, seaplanes and various other aircraft, you also fly the B-25. What’s it like to sit in the cockpit of this legendary plane?

LR: Where do I start? The thing that appeals to me most about the B-25 is the fact that it challenges, stimulates and excites every time. It’s sheer craftsmanship, you have to feel it and have a strong sense of teamwork. I love showing off the B-25 at air shows.

What is it that makes the Flying Bulls unique?

LR: Apart from the mix of aeroplanes, it’s mostly the team itself. Only the Flying Bulls has such a breadth of experience. Imagine a technician approving an aircraft from the last century with a signature. I have every faith in our technicians, I believe they are the best in the business.

What does it take to be a good pilot?

LR: I think reliability, punctuality, consistency and a highly structured way of thinking are part of the picture – both in the cockpit and in private life.

Do you have a favourite aeroplane in the Flying Bulls fleet?

LR: Yes, the Cessna Caravan. Back in Africa, this was a massive step forward. I also crossed the Atlantic in a Caravan twice, and traversed Europe and Asia. This forms a bond, almost like a romance. I’m also a water lover with a passion for seaplanes, so the Cessna Amphibian Caravan might have been made for me.