The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team

The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team (FBAT) is a Czech civilian aerobatic display team flying a tight four-ship routine with XtremeAir XA42 (Sbach 342) aircraft. Sponsored by Red Bull since 2001, they are based at Jaroměř–Josefov airfield (LKJA) in the Hradec Králové Region and perform across Europe with high-energy formation sequences, opposition passes and mirror figures.

The current four include Stanislav Čejka (Leader), Jan Tvrdík (Right Wing), Jan Rudzińskyj (Left Wing) and Martin Špaček (Slot). Their XA42s carry display smoke and are stressed for full aerobatic manoeuvres, allowing close-in formation work and crisp solo interludes within the sequence.

Type & role. The XA42 is a German two-seat tandem carbon-composite aerobatic monoplane designed by Philipp Steinbach and built by XtremeAir GmbH. It is the two-seat companion to the single-seat XA41.

Structure & power. All-composite airframe, low wing, tailwheel gear; Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A (approx. 315 hp) driving a three-blade prop. Typical limiting speeds quoted for the type are V_NE ≈ 225 kt, V_NO ≈ 185 kt, and V_A ≈ 174 kt, with a certified ceiling around 15,000 ft—well suited to Unlimited-style manoeuvres and fast formation changes.

Certification. The XA42 gained EASA type certification in 2011 and FAA certification in 2012, and is approved in the Aerobatic category. The team’s aircraft are configured with display smoke and quick-maintenance features to support a busy summer schedule.

The team’s roots go back to 1960, when four Czechoslovak civilian pilots formed the “Box Trener” display team with Zlín Trener aircraft at Chrudim. After a long run, airshow activity waned and the team disbanded in 1982. They returned after the political changes of the late 1980s as the Unimax Devils with single-seat Zlín 50L aircraft, then re-branded under NTC Chrudim AG as “Sky Box”, upgrading to the Zlín 50LX.

In 2001 the team adopted Red Bull sponsorship and the name The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team, debuting under the new banner at AERO Friedrichshafen. They later transitioned to the all-composite XtremeAir XA42 four-ship they fly today.

On 19 February 2015, two Zlín 50LX aircraft made contact during a display practice at Aero India (Bengaluru). Both pilots landed safely and the team subsequently re-grouped, continuing to perform with a refreshed line-up flying the XA42.

• The XA42 is a two-seat tandem development of the single-seat XA41 and uses a carbon-composite structure.
• FBAT’s lineage includes Box Trener, Unimax Devils and Sky Box before adopting the Flying Bulls name in 2001.
• Typical published limiting speeds for the XA42 are VNE ~225 kt, VNO ~185 kt and VA ~174 kt.
• The current four-ship routine blends tight formation figures with dynamic opposition and mirror passes.
• Base of operations is Jaroměř–Josefov (LKJA) in the Hradec Králové Region of Czechia.