This email was sent by David Williams, director of the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Seattle: Two time Unlimited National Champion, Gold Cup winner, Reno Air Race winner, Cold War hero, airline captain, stunt pilot extraordinaire and all around great guy, Miroslav (Mira) J. Slovak passed away on Monday June 16th at 7:47 pm. Mira was at home with his long time partner Ingrid Bondi and her daughter when he succumbed to stomach cancer. Mira has requested that there be no service and that his ashes be scattered over the "warm" pacific waters. (his emphasis on warm not mine.) I cared a great deal for Mira and am still struggling to find the right words to say goodbye. One of Miras close friends was Richard Bach of Jonathan Livingston Seagull fame. A few moments ago I received the following words from Richard: What a grand life he has lived! And what a joy of one that he has returned to! Our delight flies with him, magnificent, unafraid. Congratulations on your life, Mira, Well Done!
I should point out that, in my humble opinion, Mira Slovak was really "The Most Interesting Man in the World"! R. I. P., Mira.
Indeed it seems .. Mira Slovak - "The Flying Czech" I was not aware of this so pleased was brought to attention in this forum to read all about!
Really surprised to hear this. I flew in several air shows with him and bumped into him occasionally here in Seattle. A wild guy and fabulous pilot and boat driver. He sold his Bucker to Ernie Gann and we saw him up in Friday Harbor sometimes. Mira had "Poor Refugee" painted behind the cockpit. Ernie changed it to " Rich Refugee". Quite a loss. I agree, Jim, he was quite a guy.
A video about Mira and the Reno Air Races, where he was the first (official) Unlimited class winner in 1964: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh71we7-p5o]Chasing Reno Gold - Mira Slovak, learning to fly and escaping the iron curtain! - YouTube[/ame]
i remember Mira before the crash in the Wahoo during the Gold Cup. His face was thin and long but it was seriously damaged in the boat incident and he spent a long time in the hospital. I always notice the gnashing of his teeth and the change in his features after he healed. I believe that he had extensive facial reconstruction and dentures after his crash but it didn't slow hime down. I saw him land the "Mr. Mennen" P-39 on the ramp on the ramp in front of the crowd at one of the Reno Races that earned him some down time from the FAA. In 1966 at Abbottsford Air Show he got into an ego contest with another hotshot performer and planted a big kiss and hug on his competitor's girl friend. If I remember correctly during the show he picked up not one but two handkerchiefs in succession with the wing tip of his Bucker. His antagonists then tried to out do him by attempting 5 snap rolls at 100 ft. altitude . He succeeded in doing three and put his Great Lakes Special into the ground in front of the crowd. He survived with a broken nose. Slovak's girl friend at the time was the late actress Susan Oliver. Wild days then.
