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Mira Slovak, which as the an earlier trip airplane pilot in 1953 fled Communist Czechoslovakia because of the hijacking their own commercial flight so you can Western Germany, passed away into Summer 16 within his domestic inside the Fallbrook, Calif. Slovak, whom went on to be good hydroplane race champion, an excellent stunt flyer and you can an airline airplane pilot, was 84.

The reason is actually stomach cancer, said David Williams, the fresh administrator director of your Hydroplane and Raceboat Art gallery within the Kent, Wash. Williams got questioned Slovak many times in recent years to own an effective planned biography.

Slovak, following within his early 20s, is new captain from a beneficial Czechoslovak Airlines DC-3 when, for the nights February 23, 1953, he and some anybody else onboard achieved the new hijacking. That they had spent months believe they.

Shortly after takeoff, with over 20 passengers aboard, Slovak secured their co-pilot out of the cockpit. Then grabbed the newest airplanes with the a sharp plunge to assist subdue anybody else and to get rid of the fresh new flat to help you below step one,100000 feet, where radar won’t discover it.

The new airplanes, scheduled so you can fly out of Prague to help you Brno, Czechoslovakia, arrived at the a military legs for the Frankfurt around an hour afterwards. Slovak told you he previously navigated the night trip on the assist regarding moon more than and you will fluorescent bulbs from enterprises less than, digital facts he got joined the west.

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Requesting governmental asylum, he had been asked into the European countries and also the Us for a couple months ahead of are allowed to live freely in the us. But his updates since an effective Communist initially stopped your off providing a professional pilot’s licenses, Williams told you. Very Slovak receive one good way to fly that required couple back ground: dusting plants.

Before years are done, he’d flown collect dusters into the perform along side Western, doused wildfires regarding the heavens and you may has worked as your own airplane pilot to possess Statement Boeing Jr., child of one’s Boeing Organizations originator.

Boeing introduced your so you’re able to hydroplanes

Of the later 1950s, Slovak are skimming across the water’s skin in the over 150 miles per hour on the way so you’re able to recreations-webpage glory, a number of they in the helm out-of Boeing’s vessel, Miss Wahoo.

Into the 1958, Slovak obtained a national championship driving Skip Bardahl, owned by a good Seattle oils providers. Another year he was driving Miss Wahoo as he obtained new President’s Mug to your Potomac River inside Washington, D.C. He proceeded race thanks to 1967, successful several other federal championship. (He got their history lap within the a hydroplane during the many years 81, interacting with 140 m.p.h.)

Within the 1959, as he went along to work with Continental Air companies due to the fact an excellent airplane pilot; he settled off, seemingly talking, carrying out just the unexpected stunt inside a biplane. Flying less than links, upside down and you may possession over, are just how he everyday. His adventurous feats gained him brand new moniker new Flying Czech.

Mira John Slovak was given birth to on October. twenty-five, 1929, from the town of Cifer, which was upcoming into the Czechoslovakia that’s now for the Slovakia. His parents was indeed growers who hid Jewish refugees into the Nazi job. Slovak advised Williams that a train line holding Jews so you’re able to focus camps passed near its residential property. He remembered taking tobacco and you may food so you can Nazi soldiers to winnings the trust, upcoming giving tobacco and restaurants for the Jews into the train.

He entered the brand new Czechoslovak Air Push shortly after The second world war, when he are 17, and you can flew bombers from the 19. He had been promoted to help you captain within 21, in part since the newest Communist bodies are substitution officers who was actually aligned that have Allied forces in the conflict. Once he was 21, he had been piloting industrial aircraft to have Czechoslovak Air companies.

He or she is endured by the their companion Ingrid Bondi, a former trip attendant for Continental which have who the guy lived to have almost thirty years. Slovak’s a couple marriages concluded from inside the divorce case.

Williams said Slovak got flown 38,five-hundred circumstances in almost any airplanes, in the event usually is towards the much time pathways to have Continental. The guy produced more than 800 Pacific crossings on the flight before retiring in the 1986. He after imported and you can offered planes, some of them produced in Czechoslovakia.

Slovak endured multiple injuries inside the vessels and you will planes. In the hydroplane racing the guy broke a supply, a feet along with his straight back; missing the majority of their pearly whites; and you can busted his kidneys in advance of he had been from their 30s. The guy invested his peace and quiet thought his go back to the fresh cockpit, even as some opposition into liquid passed away racing.

Inside 1968, the guy hung a motor of a good Volkswagen Beetle on good glider and you can flew it over 8,100000 kilometers, from West Germany so you can California. The guy damaged 19 base on runway during the his final attraction, Santa Paula. The guy spent several days within the a great coma.

“I’m crazy about one person,” Slovak informed Sports Portrayed from inside the 1966. “That is Mira Slovak. I really don’t need certainly to eliminate me personally, but things can take place when you fool around having price. Regulations off averages catches up.

“You,” the guy added, “was in fact banged up, burnt, bounced around. All of us are willing to deal with the effects. I have i am also, but I always return for livejasmin lots more.”