Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team
Country
Czechia
Size
4 Aircraft
Base
Jaromer Airport
In 1960, four Czechoslovakian civilian aerobatic pilots initiated the thrilling aerial performances of the "Box Trener" display team, showcasing their skills with Zlin 526 "Trener" aircraft. Nestled at the Chrudim airfield, the team captivated audiences throughout Czechoslovakia, delighting spectators for 22 memorable years until its disbandment in 1982, primarily due to the absence of Air Shows. It wasn't until seven years later, following the political shifts in Czechoslovakia, that the team found new life under the sponsorship of the esteemed company Unimax. Reintroduced as the "Unimax Devils," the team soared once again, this time soaring through the skies with the nimble Zlin 50L single-seat aerobatic aircraft.
After a successful year of flying under Unimax sponsorship, the team made a strategic decision to embark on a new chapter with NTC Chrudim AG as their proud sponsor. This fresh partnership not only brought about a wave of excitement but also introduced the team to a fleet of cutting-edge Zlin 50LX aircraft, much to the delight of enthusiasts. Alongside this exhilarating change, the team embraced a new identity, henceforth known as “Sky Box”, symbolizing the thrilling journey ahead.
In 2001, the team underwent another sponsorship transition, with Red Bull becoming their new sponsor. The following May marked their debut at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany, showcasing their skills under the banner of "The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team" for the very first time.
On February 19th, 2015, during the Aero India defence expo in Bengaluru, a collision took place between two Zlin-50LX aircraft flown by the Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team. The mishap occurred as team leader Radka Machova and left wingman Jiri Saller were executing a three-ship manoeuvre around 3 p.m. Despite the impact, both pilots skillfully managed to bring their heavily damaged planes to a safe landing without sustaining any injuries. This incident led to the temporary dissolution of the team, which was later reconstituted in 2015 with new leadership and additional pilots, with only Right Wing Miroslav Krejci transitioning to the reformed group.
Currently, the aerobatic team is strategically stationed at Jaromer Airport, nestled in the picturesque northeastern region of Bohemia. Their fleet comprises four agile and high-performance XtremeAir Sbach 342 aircraft, meticulously maintained for their dazzling displays in the skies. The four-member team, consists of Stanislav Cejka (team leader), Jan Tvrdik (right wing), Jan Rudzinskyj (left wing) and Martin Spacek (slot)
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XtremeAir Sbach 342
The XtremeAir Sbach 342 (XA42) is a German high performance two-seat aerobatic and touring monoplane designed by Philipp Steinbach with Albert Mylius and built by XtremeAir GmbH of Hecklingen.
The Sbach 342 (a marketing name for the XA42) is a composite structure low-wing monoplane with a fixed conventional landing gear with a tailwheel and carbon fibre fuselage. It is powered by a 315 hp Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A piston engine driving a three-bladed propeller. It is the tandem version of the single-seater XA 41 (XtremeAir Sbach 300) which was designed by the same team in Speyer in 2004. The XA42 received a type certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency in March 2011. In November 2012 it received its type certification through the FAA.
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