The “acrobats of the air” from the Czech Republic are here to make their debut at the Aero India 2011. The Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team, consisting of civilian pilots Radka Machova, Jiri Saller, Jirí Veprek and Miroslav Krejci, has together logged more than 35,000 flying hours.
Leading the team is 62-year-old Ms. Machova, who has been flying since 1971 and is the newest member of the team.
Speaking about her impassioned team, she said The Hindu at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka on Saturday that “each of the four pilots is assembling the aircraft by hand.”. Experience is something this team swears by, and they wear the average age of the team, which is 50, proudly on their sleeves.
The team was formed way back in 1960 but only one member of that team is still part of it. The present team came together in 1993 and was rechristened after 2000 with the start of their association with Red Bull. The Flying Bulls will perform at the Aero India 2011 with their fleet of four Zlin 50 LXes.
Exciting formations
The Czech-built Zlin 50 LX is known to be safe for the exciting formations that are made with it as it is manufactured as an aerobatic plane. The plane is preferred for its spacious cabin that facilitates eye contact with the other aircraft during formations as well as the ease to manoeuvre it even at a low speed. The aircraft can go at a speed of 270 kilometres per hour and reach up to 330 kilometres while diving.
The Flying Bulls' 17-minute performance will include the box formation in which the pilot changes the aircraft position both vertically and horizontally, and then touch down in joint formation. The team will execute its specialty — the mirror flight, which is said to be an extremely difficult manoeuvre. In this, the leading aircraft flies upside down immediately above a second aircraft flying right side up, mirroring the leading aircraft's flight figures.
The veteran team will also perform the basic manoeuvres — the various types of loops, wing over and inverted formations. The team members are in India for the first time and appeared impressed with the Indian aircraft, with the Sarang earning a special mention. They are not here with any business motive, they said and added that they would love to come back.
Published - February 07, 2011 03:45 pm IST
