Four pilots from the Czech aerobatic team Flying Bulls, part of Red Bull, executed an unprecedented maneuver over the Mala Rijeka Bridge in Montenegro, the highest railway bridge in Europe.
In an inverted flight formation with their XtremeAir XA42 aircraft, they flew over the 198-meter-high bridge, which spans the canyon of the Mala Rijeka River and is part of the railway connecting Belgrade to the port of Bar on the Adriatic Sea. The structure, measuring 487 meters in length with imposing concrete pillars, presented psychological and technical challenges to the team.
According to team leader Stanislav Čejka, several bridges in the Czech Republic were initially considered for the maneuver but were ruled out due to the presence of high-voltage cables. Choosing Montenegro brought new challenges, such as the rocky terrain and the need for a controlled approach from only one side of the canyon, making the execution of the formation flight even more difficult.
Čejka explained that this type of aerobatic maneuver is rarely performed in open skies, and executing it within a canyon made the feat even riskier.
Jan Tvrdík, another team member, highlighted the high level of concentration required to maintain focus on the formation, ignoring visual obstacles such as the bridge and surrounding rocks, showcasing the pilots’ extreme preparation and skill.
Source: O Globo | Photo: Instagram @redbull | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team