Christian Postl of Enzesfeld-Lindabrunn, Niederosterreich, Austria, won this year’s Grand Prize. The photo portrays an Airbus H135 operated by Austrian air ambulance provider ÖAMTC making a dramatic landing in Styria, Austria. VAI announces winners of 2025 POWER UP Photo Contest This year’s contest showcases excellence in vertical aviation photography across six categories. Alexandria, VA (Feb. 5, 2025) — Vertical Aviation International (VAI) is excited to unveil the winners of the 2025 POWER UP Magazine Photo Contest. This highly anticipated contest draws hundreds of submissions every year from talented photographers around the globe. The highlight of this year’s competition was an entry from Christian Postl of Enzesfeld-Lindabrunn, Niederosterreich, Austria, which won this year’s Grand Prize. The photo portrays an Airbus H135 operated by Austrian air ambulance provider ÖAMTC making a dramatic landing in Styria, Austria. An accomplished photographer, Postl also won the top prize in the Wrench Turners category. Gina Kvitkovich, POWER UP magazine’s editor-in-chief, said this about the Grand Prize photo: “This photo has everything: great composition, expert capture of light, and a striking portrayal of the dramatic and energetic interplay between man, aircraft, and nature.” Entries were categorized into six distinct themes, each reflecting a unique facet of vertical aviation. In addition to the Grand Prize, the following photographers were recognized in each category: • Vertical Flight Aircraft at Work category winner: Pablo Guillermo Anaya Barron of San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico • Vertical Flight Aircraft in the Military category winner: Kris Christiaens, Temse, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium • People and Their Vertical Flight Aircraft category winner: Denis Davydov, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA • Wrench Turners category winner: Christian Postl, Enzesfeld-Lindabrunn, Niederosterreich, Austria • How We Serve category winner: Scott Seager, Kalispell, Montana, USA • Digitally Enhanced Photos of Vertical Flight Aircraft category winner: Stig Hestad, Forde, Vestland, Norway Kvitkovich notes, “Our industry draws individuals who are passionate about aviation. It’s evident that this enthusiasm is also shared by the photographers from all over the world who participated in this year’s contest. I’m grateful to them for sharing their incredible images with us—and I can’t wait to see what we’ll get for next year’s contest.” The Grand Prize winner, Christian Postl, was awarded $500, and each of the category winners received $100. These exceptional photographs will be showcased at VERTICON 2025 in Dallas, Texas, USA, this coming March and will be featured in the March 2025 edition of POWER UP Magazine. To view all the entries from this year’s contest, visit: photo.verticalavi.org. The 2026 contest opens August 1, 2025. #### Vertical Aviation International (VAI), formerly Helicopter Association International (HAI), is the world’s leading membership association dedicated to the vertical aviation industry, which encompasses all aircraft capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing. Throughout its 76 years of fueling industry growth through connection, advocacy, safety, education, and support for its members’ success, VAI has leveraged the power of vertical flight to strengthen communities worldwide. The association welcomes all facets of the vertical aviation industry, including manufacturers, operators, suppliers and vendors, pilots and maintenance technicians, and other aviation professionals. For more information about VAI, please visit: verticalavi.org.