Martin Šonka
Martin Šonka
Born (1978-03-26) 26 March 1978
Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czechoslovakia
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

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,[1] 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

Czech Republic Martin Šonka
at the Red Bull Air Race World Championship
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Wins Rank
2010 United Arab Emirates
13th		 Australia
14th		 Brazil
13th		 Canada
12th		 United States
11th		 Germany
11th		 Hungary
CAN		 Portugal
CAN		 2 0 14th
Series not held between 2011 and 2013
2014 United Arab Emirates
7th		 Croatia
6th		 Malaysia
6th		 Poland
10th		 United Kingdom
9th		 United States
7th		 United States
8th		 Austria
3rd		 18 0 8th
2015 United Arab Emirates
10th		 Japan
10th		 Croatia
2nd		 Hungary
3rd		 United Kingdom
7th		 Austria
4th		 United States
4th		 United States
8th		 29 0 4th
2016 United Arab Emirates
DSQ		 Austria
9th		 Japan
2nd		 Hungary
13th		 United Kingdom
5th		 Germany
4th		 United States
7th		 United States
CAN		 31 0 7th
2017 United Arab Emirates
1st		 United States
5th		 Japan
3rd		 Hungary
4th		 Russia
9th		 Portugal
1st		 Germany
3rd		 United States
4th		 70 2 2nd
2018 United Arab Emirates
4th		 France
8th		 Japan
3rd		 Hungary
1st		 Russia
1st		 Austria
1st		 United States
10th		 United States
1st		 80 4 1st
2019 United Arab Emirates
2nd		 Russia
3rd +2		 Hungary
4th +3		 Japan
13th +2		 Season shortened 68 0 3rd

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. ↑ "Two new pilots for 2010 Red Bull Air Race season". Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  2. ↑ Daily Results - Saturday August 29, 2009 Archived January 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine" World Aerobatic Championship. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "World Aerobatics Cup 2008 | Results". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  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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