Pilot readers are not Jiří Krajča definitely unknown. You could read his advice on how to succeed in a sports competition, for example, in the December issue of Pilot. Attentive readers also know that Jiří Krajča he lived and worked in England for several years, where he was engaged in flying, instructor work and work in the maintenance and construction and sale of aircraft. He also started producing various accessories for aircraft and their pilots – aircraft covers, upholstery, fastening belts, covers, etc. But he continues to do so even after returning to the Czech Republic after Brexit, as well as in cooperation with Špaček on the sale of SD-planes brand aircraft . He is currently participating (with P. Tax and P. Opěla) in the construction of a UL replica of the historic Sopwith Triplane fighter and in the reconstruction of the all-wooden Beta Minor aircraft. In the meantime, he also managed to marry his navigator and partner Ilona...
After winning your second world title last August, you have now been named Air Sportsman of the Year. What does this award mean to you? And do you have those cups next to you in a display case? ;)
I appreciate the award very much and it is such a boost to further sports activities. I want to thank the board of the UL Association and the councils that propose and approve the awards. Although it is the second world championship title, it is the fourth title in a row for me, if I also count the European Championship. It is very difficult to organize not only yourself, but also the whole team, usually around thirty people, in a one-person category. Sometimes the victory is just not making a mistake to make everything work and fly. Cups and awards have accumulated over the years, it is probably time to leave in the display case only the beautiful crystals and the cup for third place, which my wife and I flew together at the European Championship in Poland in the two-seater category.
When we interviewed you after your first world title in 2018, you said that you intend to stay in the AL1 category, but at the same time that you like challenges... And where to next? What is your next "goal"??
We are expecting our first little junior very soon, so the new challenge is very clear. Some priorities will definitely change. However, in the working group within the international ultralight commission FAI CIMA, we are actively preparing a completely new format of the Airsport Challenge, where even general aviation aircraft could fly. The competition will consist of a navigational flight in a corridor with time gates and penalty zones and then several landings. We place the main emphasis on attractiveness, simplicity, increasing the interest of the audience and, in the future, with the aim of breaking through on television. There will be no searching for photos, no characters, no economy tasks with limited fuel, and no need to fly with the engine off. Everything should take place in the form of live tracking with continuous real-time evaluation and its projection on the screen and an automatic landing evaluation system. We adjust the entire format, rules and technical support. This year I would like to organize the first test competition. And what a complete novelty we are preparing for eGaming. In this case, it will be online navigation flying using Microsoft Flight Simulator and the same online livetracking evaluation platform as in Airsport Challenge. I hope that soon we will present this new dimension of LA 21st century to the public.
These are interesting sports projects, but in the interview you also mentioned that you would like to expand the instructor qualification to an examiner in Great Britain. Did it work?
If it weren't for covid, it would have been successful. I had already arranged the examination exams, but the first wave of covid just arrived. All plans about traveling and teaching in the UK have completely changed. For almost three months, UK was banned from flying and teaching. Then came the second wave, the third... I had many students and interested parties who wanted to come to the Czech Republic and complete or complete their training here with me. Having an examiner would make everything easier. We will not influence such force majeure. But working in the workshop on unique aircraft is also beautiful.
Back to sports. You are a member of the Young Sports Talents Program of the UL Flying Association, and you are now also involved in it as an instructor and trainer, right?
I greatly appreciate the fact that Ivo Lengál and others were able to establish such a program more than ten years ago and secure funding for it. I am very happy to develop this program further as the leader of this program. We currently have over twenty young talents, but the program is designed for only ten. We try to develop all skills from technical, navigation, communication, safety etc. We hope that the funding of young athletes and talents will continue even at a time when all state spending is being cut. It makes sense.
Do you see any favorites among the current participants of the program, future champions of the country, Europe, the world...??
Certainly yes, we already have many successes and great results from the young talent program. Last year it was, for example, Filip Vita and Tomáš Procházka, where they won silver in the two-seater aircraft category at the World Championships. As a navigator, Roman Chvojka won the gold medal at the WC with his father, Petr Chvojka, in rogals. We also have female crews. Peter should also be mentioned from history Jonáše, who came to the program a year later than me. Peter Jonáš became a world champion in UL flying, then also in general aviation in precision flying, air rally and now even aspires to aerobatic titles. You can see how young people are progressing in terms of performance. Of course, it's not just about us leaders and instructors, but mainly about them. Their diligence, training, discipline matters. It's not just about the talent, it's about their overall attitude. We try to give them as much as possible and prepare such conditions and possibilities.
So it seems that the problem with small participation in competitive flying does not concern us much, and that it is good, we could see last year at the World Championships in Hosín. In addition, you mentioned that you are expecting a child. When is he due to be born and what else awaits you this year?
Team members honestly expand our ranks. This year, however, we will not be the only ones to contribute. Our pilot is scheduled to arrive in mid-July. This year I will participate in several rounds of PPT and MČR. Unfortunately the European Championships are not coming this year, but we have been invited to the 'Ultralight' Championships in England as training for the likely 2024 FAI World Championships held in the UK. I would also like to try the new Airsport Challenge format and later in the year eGaming. I will also be flying at a few events of the Metoděj Vlach Aviation Museum as a display pilot with a UL replica BE‑60 Bestiola. We have the Sopwith Triplane and BE‑50 Bety Minor building just before completion and right after that I have the overhaul and refurbishment of the TL‑132 Condor and the commissioning of my SD‑2 Sportmaster. I'll probably jump on the Terej ultralight glider and the Slingsby two-seater historic glider replica. From September, we will still have capacity left for a new project, so if by chance someone wants to build a replica or a normal, light airplane, feel free to get in touch.
This looks like a rich program and I believe that readers will read about the most interesting projects in Pilot. I wish that everything goes according to your wishes and that the offspring brings you nothing but joy!
