- Martin Šonka
-
Martin Šonka 
Martin Šonka in the cockpit of his Extra 300SR aircraft at Helsinki-Malmi airportBorn March 26, 1978 Nationality 
Czech RepublicRacing career First race 2010 Best position 11th (2010) Aircraft Zivko Edge 540 Website martin-sonka.cz Martin Šonka (born on March 26, 1978 in Dvůr Králové nad Labem) is a Czech aerobatics (unlimited) and a fighter pilot in the Czech Air Force. He is the beginner from the year 2010 in Red Bull Air Race.[1]
Contents
Biography
Beginnings
Martin Šonka began his aviation career in 1997. In this year he first time 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 was attending Jan Perner Transport Faculty at University of Pardubice (Department of Transport Management, Marketing and Logistics). He finished his studies with 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.
Aerobatics
In 2005 he became a member of the Czech national aerobatic team. He flies Su-31.
Red Bull Air Race
Martin Šonka taking off from Jandakot airport for the final practice before the Perth 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
2010
Martin Šonka
at the Red Bull Air Race World ChampionshipYear 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Wins Rank 2010 
13th
14th
13th
12th
11th
11th
CAN
CAN2 0 14th 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
- ^ http://www.redbullairrace.com/cs/Satellite/en_air/Article/Two-new-pilots-for-2010-Red-Bull-Air-Race-season-021242806739411
- ^ Daily Results - Saturday August 29, 2009" World Aerobatic Championship. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ^ http://www.aerobaticscup.com/index.php?lang=en&node=107
- ^ 24th FAI World Aerobatic Championships 24/06/2007 - 04/07/2007 Overall Results. Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
External links
Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilots Current pilots (2010) 
Hannes Arch • Péter Besenyei • 
Paul Bonhomme • Kirby Chambliss • Matthias Dolderer • Michael Goulian • Matt Hall • 
Nicolas Ivanoff • Adilson Kindlemann • Nigel Lamb • Pete McLeod • 
Yoshihide Muroya • 
Sergey Rakhmanin • Martin ŠonkaFormer pilots 
Glen Dell • Steve Jones • 
Jurgis Kairys • 
Alejandro Maclean • Mike Mangold • David Martin • Klaus Schrodt • 
Frank VersteeghCategories:- Aerobatic pilots
- Czech aviators
- Czech air racers
- Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilots
- Living people
- 1978 births
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