Martin Šonka

Martin Šonka (born March 26, 1978 in Dvůr Králové nad Labem) is a Czech aerobatics (unlimited) and a former fighter pilot in the Czech Air Force. He has raced in Red Bull Air Race World Championship since 2010,[1] becoming the World Champion in the 2018 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season.

Martin Šonka
BornMarch 26, 1978
Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic)
Nationality Czech
EducationUniversity of Defence
Aviation career
Air forceCzech Air Force
Racing career
First race2010
Best position1st (2018)
AircraftZivko Edge 540 V3
Websitemartin-sonka.cz

Biography

Beginnings

Martin Šonka began his aviation career in 1997. In this year he flew a glider for the first time and started his studies at University of Defence in Brno as a pilot. In 1999 he gained his Private Pilot Licence. Between 2001 and 2005 he attended Jan Perner Transport Faculty at University of Pardubice (Department of Transport Management, Marketing and Logistics). He finished his studies with a master's degree in 2005.

The Czech Air Force

His military career started in 2000 in Pardubice. Two years after he moved to the air base in Náměšť nad Oslavou and in 2006 to 21st Tactical Air Force Base at Čáslav where he began flying L-159 Alca. In 2012 he has finished the type rating for the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. In 2014 he was forced to leave the army due to his busy racing schedule.

Aerobatics

In 2005 he became a member of the Czech national aerobatic team. He used to fly Su-31, however in the past few years he is training and competing with Extra 300SR.

Red Bull Air Race

In 2009 Šonka passed all Red Bull Air Race qualifying camps and gained The Red Bull Air Race Super Licence. Then he was nominated for a 2010 season rookie.

Achievements

Red Bull Air Race

Martin Šonka
at the Red Bull Air Race World Championship
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Wins Rank
2010
13th
14th
13th
12th
11th
11th
CAN
CAN		 2 0 14th
Series not held between 2011 and 2013
2014
7th
6th
6th
10th
9th
7th
8th
3rd		 18 0 8th
2015
10th
10th
2nd
3rd
7th
4th
4th
8th		 29 0 4th
2016
DSQ
9th
2nd
13th
5th
4th
7th
CAN		 31 0 7th
2017
1st
5th
3rd
4th
9th
1st
3rd
4th		 70 2 2nd
2018
4th
8th
3rd
1st
1st
1st
10th
1st		 80 4 1st
2019
2nd
?
?
?
?
?
?
?		 22 2nd

Legend: * CAN: Cancelled * DNP: Did not take part * DNS: Did not start * DSQ: Disqualified

2009

  • World Championship, Unlimited - Free Style, Powered, 9th place[2]
  • Slovenian Nationals, Unlimited, Powered, 1st place
  • World Air Games, Unlimited, Powered, 5th place

2008

  • World Aerobatic Cup, Unlimited, Powered, 3rd place [3]
  • European Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 17th place
  • National Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 1st place

2007

  • World Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 29th place.[4]
  • National Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 2nd place

2006

  • European Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 14th place
  • National Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 3rd place

2005

  • European Championship, Advanced, Powered, 14th place
  • National Championship, Advanced, Powered, 4th place

2004

  • National Championship, Sportsman, Powered, 1st place
  • National Championship, Intermediate, Gliders, 1st place

2003

  • National Championship, Sportsman, Gliders, 1st place

2002

  • National Championship, Sportsman, Gliders, 3rd place

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Daily Results - Saturday August 29, 2009 Archived January 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine" World Aerobatic Championship. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. 24th FAI World Aerobatic Championships 24/06/2007 - 04/07/2007 Overall Results. Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
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