Ocovski Bacovia

Ocovski Bacovia (Slovak: Očovskí Bačovia) is a renowned glider formation aerobatic team from Slovakia, founded in 1981. Flying four classic Czechoslovak-built Blaník sailplanes with wingtip smoke, they are widely noted as the world’s largest dedicated glider aerobatic team.

Their name honours the village of Očová in central Slovakia, near the regional centre of Zvolen. Today they operate from Dobrá Niva Airport, performing an 8-minute musical routine that blends tight four-ship geometry, synchronised figures and short solo interludes—starting around 3,300 ft and sweeping through 90–250 km/h.

LET L-13 Blaník. Two-seat, all-metal training glider (first produced 1956). Semi-monocoque fuselage with an ovoid cross-section, trapezoidal wings with slight forward sweep, metal DFS-type spoilers (upper and lower surfaces) and fabric-covered control surfaces. The L-13 carries flaps, useful for approach control in training or confined-field work.

LET L-23 Super Blaník. Refined two-seat variant with a roomier cockpit, T-tail, and deleted flaps to save weight (airbrakes retained top/bottom). Early L-23s had a two-piece canopy; later examples introduced a single-piece right-opening canopy for improved visibility. Both types remain excellent platforms for disciplined formation aerobatics.

Team fit. The team equips wingtips with smoke generators to trace formation geometry. Displays emphasise energy management: smooth pull-ups, chandelles, lazy-eights and formation loops tailored to glider performance envelopes.

Established in 1981 at Očová, the team evolved into a unique four-glider formation act, taking classic training sailplanes and crafting a tight, elegant display language for the airshow environment. They have performed widely across Slovakia and throughout Europe, popularising the precision and quiet drama of sailplane aerobatics.

In 1999 the team’s contribution to group flying was recognised by the World Air Sports Federation with the “Diplôme d’honneur”. Now operating from Dobrá Niva, they continue to showcase disciplined formation flying with vivid smoke trails and a carefully scored soundtrack.

• The team flies a four-ship of Blaník gliders—rare in the world of sailplane displays.
• L-23 Super Blaník has a T-tail and no flaps; the L-13 carries flaps.
• Displays begin around 3,300 ft and sweep through 90–250 km/h.
• They perform to music with wingtip smoke tracing formation shapes.
• The name references the village of Očová in central Slovakia.