Martin Šonka (born 26 March 1978 in Dvůr Králové nad Labem) is a Czech aerobatic pilot and former Czech Air Force fighter pilot. In 2018 he won the Red Bull Air Race World Championship - the first Czech pilot to do so - and also holds the titles of European Champion and World Vice-Champion in unlimited freestyle aerobatics. He now works as a military flight instructor in Pardubice while continuing to perform at air shows on his Extra 300 SR.
Šonka is confirmed as a performer at the 20th edition of Pilníkova Late Afternoon in Čerčany, which takes place on July 18, 2026.
Šonka performed at the Aviation Day in Břeclav with his special aircraft Extra 300 SR.
In an interview for Drbna.cz, Šonka confirmed that besides racing aerobatics, he works as an instructor for military pilots at the Flight Training Center in Pardubice.
Šonka, as the first pilot in the Czech Republic, flew under a bridge - specifically under the world's longest suspension footbridge Sky Bridge 721 in Dolní Morava - at a speed of 350 km/h and set a Czech record.
