Martin Šonka

Martin Šonka
Martin Šonka in the cockpit of his Extra 300SR aircraft at Helsinki-Malmi airport
Born	March 26, 1978 Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic)
Nationality	Czech
Racing career
First race	2010
Best position	11th (2010)
Aircraft	Zivko Edge 540
Website
martin-sonka.cz

Martin Šonka (born 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Red Bull Air Race

Legend: * CAN: Cancelled * DNP: Did not take part * DNS: Did not start * DSQ: Disqualified

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002