FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
March 23rd 1953 "Freedom Day"
63 years ago today a young pilot named Miroslav "Mira" Slovak, who had achieved the rank of Captain in the Soviet dominated Czech...oslovakian Air force at the astonishingly young age of 21, hijacked a DC-3 with 23 passengers onboard. He put the plane into a steep dive and flew under the radar, across the Iron Curtain to freedom. Along the way he fought off the communist flight crew and out foxed several MiG 15s that were sent up to stop his escape.
Mira landed at the US Air Force Base in Frankfurt and soon went to work for the CIA . He eventually ended up in Seattle as Bill Boeing Jr's personal pilot. When Bill decided to get into Hydro racing, Mira got the job as driver for Bill's Miss Wahoo.
He won two Unlimited National Championships, a Gold Cup and a number of other races including the Presidents Cup and the Seafair Trophy. When not racing boats Mira was racing planes and won the first Reno Unlimited Gold in 1964. Mira was also a stunt pilot who performed at air shows actross the U.S. in his famous Bucker biplane or his Lunak Glider. Mira also crossed the Atlantic in a RF-4 glider (Twice!) When Mira wasn't racing hydros or flying air shows, he was piloting a 747 for Continental Airlines. When he retired, Mira had over 35,000 flight hours in dozens of different types or airplanes. He passed away on June 16, 2014 in Fallbrook California.
63 years ago today a young pilot named Miroslav "Mira" Slovak, who had achieved the rank of Captain in the Soviet dominated Czech...oslovakian Air force at the astonishingly young age of 21, hijacked a DC-3 with 23 passengers onboard. He put the plane into a steep dive and flew under the radar, across the Iron Curtain to freedom. Along the way he fought off the communist flight crew and out foxed several MiG 15s that were sent up to stop his escape.
Mira landed at the US Air Force Base in Frankfurt and soon went to work for the CIA . He eventually ended up in Seattle as Bill Boeing Jr's personal pilot. When Bill decided to get into Hydro racing, Mira got the job as driver for Bill's Miss Wahoo.
He won two Unlimited National Championships, a Gold Cup and a number of other races including the Presidents Cup and the Seafair Trophy. When not racing boats Mira was racing planes and won the first Reno Unlimited Gold in 1964. Mira was also a stunt pilot who performed at air shows actross the U.S. in his famous Bucker biplane or his Lunak Glider. Mira also crossed the Atlantic in a RF-4 glider (Twice!) When Mira wasn't racing hydros or flying air shows, he was piloting a 747 for Continental Airlines. When he retired, Mira had over 35,000 flight hours in dozens of different types or airplanes. He passed away on June 16, 2014 in Fallbrook California.
