Martin Šonka (born 26 March 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, becoming the World Champion in the 2018 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season.
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 Šonkaat the Red Bull Air Race World ChampionshipYear 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8PointsWinsRank 201013th14th13th12th11th11thCANCAN2014th Series not held between 2011 and 2013 20147th6th6th10th9th7th8th3rd1808th 201510th10th2nd3rd7th4th4th8th2904th 2016DSQ9th2nd13th5th4th7th CAN 31 07th 20171st5th3rd4th9th1st3rd4th 70 2 2nd 20184th8th3rd1st1st1st10th1st 80 41st 20192nd3rd +24th +313th +2 Season shortened6803rd
Legend: * CAN: Cancelled * DNP: Did not take part * DNS: Did not start * DSQ: Disqualified
2009 World Championship, Unlimited - Free Style, Powered, 9th placeDaily Results - Saturday August 29, 2009 " World Aerobatic Championship. Retrieved 11 February 2010. Slovenian Nationals, Unlimited, Powered, 1st place World Air Games, Unlimited, Powered, 5th place
2008 World Aerobatic Cup, Unlimited, Powered, 3rd place European Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 17th place National Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 1st place
2007 World Championship, Unlimited, Powered, 29th place.24th FAI World Aerobatic Championships 24/06/2007 - 04/07/2007 Overall Results. Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 11 February 2010. 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
Gallery
References
External links
Official website Red Bull Air Race Pilot Profile – Martin Šonka