On October 8, four XtremeAir Sbach 342 aerobatic aircraft took off from Montenegro’s Niksic Airport (LYNK) and flew a circuitous course through the Dinaric Mountains, following the Mala Rijeka river. Ahead of them was their objective, the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, which carries the Belgrade-Bar railway across the river valley. And at 660 feet above the valley floor, the structure is recognized as the highest rail bridge in Europe.
As the group flew over the bridge in a tight diamond formation, flight leader Stanislav Cejka eased the stick forward, cresting at the top of the loop, and gradually arcing his aircraft into a vertical dive. With airshow smoke on, the rest of the team, including left wingman Jan Rudzinskyj, right wingman Jan Tvrdik, and slot Martin Spacek, followed Cejka down.
“When…