Marek Veselý wins gold, two silvers and a bronze at the Aerobatics World Championships

What were the biggest challenges in training and at the World Championships?

This year I had little time or money to train, so the biggest challenge was training as efficiently as possible and trying every demanding element I might face at the Worlds at least once.

At the championships themselves the challenge is always staying focused. Aerobatics isn’t just about flying the aircraft – it’s largely about your head and your approach. Another challenge was one of the competition sequences, made up of tough manoeuvres. The last one meant flying straight at the ground at low altitude, and I really didn’t like it or feel comfortable. In the end I dealt with it and even scored great marks, so challenge accomplished.

Which moments from the championships will stay with you forever?

Definitely that one tough sequence – and how thrilled I was to fly it and survive. 🙂 But aerobatics, and aviation in general, isn’t just about individual flights. It’s about the people, the ethos and, I’d say, a certain culture and way of life. That’s why there’s never a shortage of experiences and lifelong memories.

What do gold medals mean to you, and how have they shaped your career?

Indescribable. It hardly matters whether it’s gold from a regional contest, a sixth Czech title or a world title. In aviation you never know how long you’ll be able to fly – because of money, health or anything else. So I treat every flight and every medal as a gift and accept it with gratitude and humility. A World Championship gold does have something extra, though, because I want to be the best pilot in the world and these medals prove I can and that I’m on the right path.

What is key to success in aerobatics?

Besides determination, hunger, mindset, hard work and a positive attitude – which apply to every sport – this one is heavily influenced by money. Without money you can’t train, and without training you can’t improve and be the best.

What does your training look like?

For fitness I run and go to the gym regularly. In flight, g-forces act on you from every direction, so you need a strong core and a heart in good shape to cope with them.

I fly whenever I can, but never more than four training flights a day – beyond that it becomes counterproductive.

What goes through your mind when you’re flying aerobatic manoeuvres?

A lot, depending on the situation. On simpler figures I try to enjoy it or check where I am relative to the spectators and judges. On harder manoeuvres I watch speed and altitude and think about how and when to start fighting the g-forces that are about to hit me or already are. I also often think about how to finish a figure so I can flow straight into the next one.

What gives you the courage to try new, harder manoeuvres?

Courage? Probably that I’m obsessed and want to be the best – then there’s no room left for courage. What you really need is a healthy dose of respect and humility so you don’t overdo it and end up in a bad situation.

Do you have a pre-flight ritual?

I don’t know if it counts as a ritual, but I like to wash, or at least wipe down, the aircraft before a flight. It flies better – and above all I believe that if we look after our aircraft, they look after us. Sometimes I sit down next to it, lean my back against the fuselage and have a little chat with it.

What fascinates you most about aerobatics, and what got you into it?

The answer is simple: freedom and liberty. Both matter enormously to me, and aviation – aerobatics above all – lets me enjoy them to the fullest. Then there’s speed, precision and adrenaline.

My dad, who is also a pilot, got me into it, along with my lifelong dream of becoming a fighter pilot. Wanting to achieve more than others played a part too.

What advice would you give pilots who want to get into aerobatics?

Learn to sense and feel the aircraft instead of flying by the manual and pre-set numbers. And above all, do it with passion and enthusiasm.