Czech Aerobatic Team Achieves Historic Inverted Loop Around Europe’s Tallest Railway Bridge

Podgorica, Montenegro – In a breathtaking display of aerial prowess, the Czech Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team has set a new standard for extreme aviation. This month, they successfully executed what is believed to be the first-ever inverted formation flight around Europe’s tallest railway bridge, the Mala Rijeka Viaduct. This daring feat took place near Podgorica, Montenegro, close to the border with Albania.

The Mala Rijeka Bridge, an engineering marvel, stretches over a deep canyon carved by the Mala Rijeka River. It serves as a crucial link in the railway line connecting Belgrade, Serbia, to the Adriatic Sea port town of Bar. The bridge itself is an impressive 1,600 feet in length and stands 650 feet above the canyon floor, supported by colossal concrete pillars. These towering structures posed significant psychological and technical challenges for the aerobatic team.

Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team under the Mala Rijeka Viaduct 
Photo: Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull

The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team, comprising four seasoned pilots—Stanislav Cejka (team leader), Jan Tvrdik (right wing), Jan Rudzinskyj (left wing), and Martin Spacek (slot)—took off from Niksic Airport in Montenegro. They approached the bridge with precision, executing a complex maneuver that required flawless coordination. As they navigated the narrow confines and jagged cliffs, each pilot mirrored the leader’s every move, flying mere meters from the imposing bridge structure.

The roots of the Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team trace back to 1960, when four civilian pilots in Czechoslovakia formed the “Box Trener” display team at the Chrudim airfield. For over two decades, they captivated audiences with their Zlin 526 “Trener” aircraft, becoming a beloved fixture in airshows across the country. However, the team’s journey was interrupted in 1982 due to a lack of airshow opportunities.

In 1989, following political changes in Czechoslovakia, the team was revived under the sponsorship of Unimax, rebranding as the “Unimax Devils” and taking to the skies with Zlin 50L aircraft. A year later, a new partnership with NTC Chrudim AG introduced the team to advanced Zlin 50LX aircraft, prompting another rebranding to “Sky Box.”

The year 2001 marked a significant turning point when Red Bull became the team’s sponsor. Their debut under the new banner, “The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team,” at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany, signaled a new era of thrilling performances.

However, the team faced adversity on February 19, 2015, during the Aero India defense expo in Bengaluru. A collision between two Zlin-50LX aircraft occurred as team leader Radka Machova and left wingman Jiri Saller executed a maneuver. Despite the collision, both pilots skillfully landed their damaged planes without injury. This incident led to a temporary dissolution, but the team was reformed later that year with new leadership and pilots, retaining only right wing Miroslav Krejci from the previous lineup.

Today, the Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team operates from Jaromer Airport in northeastern Bohemia. Their fleet of four XtremeAir Sbach 342 aircraft is meticulously maintained, ensuring their continued excellence in aerial displays. The recent inverted loop around the Mala Rijeka Bridge stands as a testament to their enduring legacy and relentless pursuit of aviation innovation