They say New York City is the place where dreams can come true.
Well for former Army serviceman Aaron Fitzgerald, that dream came along with one of the most stunning backdrops to perform in, as Fitzgerald took the Red Bull Aerobatic Helicopter and brought unbelievable aerial maneuvers into downtown Manhattan performing tricks along the iconic skyline.
As a little appetizer, New Yorkers were given a sneak peek of the upcoming Memorial Day Bethpage Air Show this upcoming Memorial Day. Performing flips, barrel rolls and nose dives around the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park and West Side Highway, Fitzgerald hopes to inspire the next generation of flyers.
“Sharing what I do is a privilege,” said Fitzgerald. “To ignite the passion of flying in someone to go pursue their passion from having watched us is a success. We love to give people a chance to change their perspective and to be innovative and discover what we can all do together.”
With Red Bull, that collaboration to do things together has created some iconic moments throughout the past few decades and this is sure to be one event talked about for many years to come.
“That is the magic of Red Bull,” said Fitzgerald. “They are so supportive of anything you come up with to showcase what we as athletes can do but most importantly dream to do. There is an enthusiasm that is they as a brand bring to the project. When you bring an idea to Red Bull, the answer is never ‘Well let us think about it. It is always, how can we make this bigger, what more do you need?’ I think if we all approached life in the same way that they approach a dream of an athlete, we would find ourselves accomplishing anything we wanted. For this event in particular, there were so many pieces to make it happen. From clearing the airspace, to coordinating the Coast Guard and NYPD, they put all the puzzles pieces together and what you see is a dream come true. It was amazing and so memorable.”
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool 
Red Bull Aerobatic Helicopter Pilot, Aaron Fitzgerald, performs flips, barrel rolls and nose dives over the New York City skyline during the morning hours on May 18th 2019. 
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Innovation is such a driver in the action and adventure sports world, including pushing the boundaries of what physics says you should or should not be able to do, like backflipping a helicopter.
The Red Bull helicopter is able to perform the tricks through the use of a unique titanium rotor. It allows Fitzgerald to reverse the airflow through the rotor without damaging anything, ensuring he can safely execute the maneuvers.
“Originally this helicopter was built for the German army to be an anti tank helicopter and to withstand a high G-load capacity when you pull up or push down maneuvering the helicopter. While the helicopter is within its’ limits to still perform the tricks, it was not designed to do them, and it is the pilot that has to learn to overcome his limits as well.”
But Fitzgerald will be there first to tell you that even in the moment when dreams are coming true, to slow down and appreciate what you are doing and creating.
“Flying in New York City was surreal. It was not a business as usual for this event. In those in between moments after you finish a maneuver you look around and you see the World Trade Center or Statue of Liberty, you have this personal reflection within yourself that allows you to appreciate the experience in front of you. When you put your mind to something and find a methodical plan to it, anything is possible. You have to be prepared to work for it, but I can promise you, it can happen.”
About Aaron Fitzgerald:
- Fitzgerald is in the U.S Army’s 82nd Airborne Division
- He began flight training in 1994
- Performed and filmed for over 100 films and TV shows
- Flown utility flying in mountainous terrain and offshore support
- Flown in flight test programs for NASA
- Introduced to helicopter aerobatics in 2017, joined the Flying Bulls that same year
- Medal of Valor recipient