Bengaluru: The Czech woman leader of the aerobatics team, the Flying Bulls, was in one of the two planes that scraped each other today during a stunts display at the Aero India show in Bengaluru.
The planes landed safely, though one is heavily damaged. The leader of the four-member team is Radka Machova, a 65-year-old pilot who is a former member of the Czech national aerobatics team and a professional jet pilot.
Her bio on the Red Bull website is titled, ‘A dimunitive woman who becomes a giant in the air’. “Radka Machova has to keep her eye on the ball at all times with three other pilots all looking to her for instructions as they fly within a hair’s breadth of each other. The Czech pilot, who got her wings while studying at the University of Prague, is calm under pressure and has a lifetime’s experience in the cockpit to call upon when things get tough,” it says.
She has led the world famous team for the last 13 years.
The acrobatic fliers performed in Bengaluru two years ago as well.
The aircraft were part of the aerobatic displays that are usually a highlight of the aviation exhibition and air show, which is held every two years and will be open to the public over the weekend.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the star guest at the opening ceremony yesterday and vowed in his speech to end India’s status as the world’s top defence importer.
The exhibition is organized by the Defence Ministry. Manufacturers from across the world meet potential buyers.
