At 62, she still rules the sky

She is one of a handful of female stunt pilots in the world today. And at 62, she heads the world's best aerobatic flying unit, the Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team. A mother of two, Radka Machova performs death-defying stunts, including the freefall and---the toughest of them all---the mirror flight, in which she and her team flies upside down.

At the Bangalore Aero show this year, her team performed mid-air manoeuvres with amazing precision and agility. On landing, she was calm and collected, and unaffected by the crowds clamouring to talk to her.

Yahoo! India News caught up with the Czech pilot for an exclusive chat in which she revealed her likes and dislikes, and what it takes to be a stunt pilot. Excerpts:

Q. What inspired you to be a pilot?

Since my childhood I was passionate about flying and as I grew older, I became sure that it was flying that I would choose as my profession as I was a adrenalin junkie.

Q. What do you most like about flying and aerobatics?

I like to fly because it makes me feel like a bird and the sound of planes flying is like music to me. I do aerobatics because people love to see stunts and I am happy to make them smile.

Q. Being a women, was it difficult to enter a field dominated by men?

Whether for men or women, becoming a stunt pilot is difficult. You need loads of talent, time, and patience, but most importantly you need to get good training which is very expensive in the Czech Republic. It was not easy for me to become a pilot at a time when flying was dominated by men, but I had the determination. For women, it is difficult to make a name in any profession. In most countries, the opportunities women get are fewer. But things are changing and most countries are more liberal today than they used to be when I started flying.

Q. Being a women, how does it feel to head an all-male team?

Aerobatics is not about men or women. What matters is how you coordinate and fly without making any mistake. People should only be judged on their work, and it is very important to explain to people they shouldn't be prejudiced on gender. People with whom I fly feel safe with me and I am proud of this.

Q. How does your family react to your undertaking such risky stunts?

My son is really proud of what I do. And even though my husband is a pilot, he at times gets worried as there is no scope of error in the stunts we do. But even if they are worried they don't make me aware that they are worried.

Q. This is your first time in India. How has it been here?

I really adore the people here. They are so lovable and peace-loving. But when I look at the traffic, I find it very chaotic and slow-moving. Strangely, I don't get bored as there is so much activity on the roads that it keeps me hooked.

Q. What is the one piece of advice you would give to aerobatic aspirants?

Aerobatics is not easy to master as there are a very few institutes in the world that offer training. You must have the grit and determination to pursue aerobatics as it not like flying an ordinary airplane. In short, you must have the urge from within to be a aerobat. I have been a pilot for 40 years, but every time I fly I learn something new.

Q. Apart from flying, what are the other things that you do?

I love adventure and when I am not flying I am skiing, cycling, swimming and deep-sea diving. I don't like sitting at home or spending my time idling, so whenever I can, I go out on a vacation with my family.