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Šonka will once again showcase breathtaking aerobatics

The flight program of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days will be enhanced by the world-renowned aerobatic pilot and flight instructor from the state-owned company LOM PRAHA, Martin Šonka. After two years, he will once again showcase his piloting skills on the Zlín Z-142C AF training aircraft.

Martin Šonka has been working at the LOM PRAHA Flight Training Centre since July 2020. It was on the Zlín Z-142C AF that he completed his first test flight, and he continues to train students from the University of Defence in Brno in basic piloting and aerobatics on this aircraft. In addition to training on the "Zlín," he also contributes to the professional preparation of pilot trainees on the L-39C Albatros jet trainer.

Before joining LOM PRAHA, Šonka had a career as a combat pilot in the Czech Air Force, where he flew various types of aircraft, including the L-159 ALCA light attack aircraft and the JAS-39 Gripen fighter, on which he also served as a display pilot. He ended his active military service in 2014 and decided to focus on aerobatics, where he later achieved remarkable success, including titles such as Czech Republic Champion, European Champion, World Vice-Champion, and Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion.

Letecké Opravny Malešice (LOM) is one of the oldest aviation industry companies in the Czech lands, with a tradition dating back to 1915. Beyond the Flight Training Center, their primary focus is the maintenance, modernization, and repair of Mi-series helicopters in NATO and EU countries. In the future, their portfolio will expand to include rearming the Czech Air Force with the new H-1 helicopter platform, which will involve not only repairs but also simulation training of personnel at the Tactical Simulation Center, built in collaboration with their subsidiary, VR Group, a.s.

See you at
NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2024!