Aug 18, 20173 min read

FORTIS & International Aerobatic Pilot Cástor Fantoba

A high-flying partnership

Fortis and Cástor Fantoba are embarking on a high-flying partnership. Swiss watchmaker FORTIS will join Spanish pilot Fantoba in the cockpit and help set his pace in competitions. A partnership between two true leaders in their fields: Cástor is Spain’s number one aerobatic pilot and FORTIS is a global leader and trendsetter in the watchmaking world, and the creator of the first automatic wristwatch.

Cástor Fantoba and FORTIS emphasise that this agreement reflects their shared philosophy of competition and their passion for accuracy, reliability and innovation. The prestigious Swiss brand has joined forces with Cástor ahead of his next challenge: The World Aerobatic Championships in South Africa this September. The Spanish pilot has also confirmed that he will also be taking part in three air shows in China and the Spanish Championships this autumn.

At these international events, Cástor will be wearing the Classic Cosmonauts Chronograph, which features sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides of the glass. Further this timepiece can withstand the pilot’s fierce accelerations of up to 12 Gs. The watch is an extremely robust and highly precise timepiece.

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Cástor Fantoba said: “It is a source of great pride to be backed by FORTIS, a true pioneer in its field and a company I admire. The fact that FORTIS has chosen us as its sporting image underscores the strength of our quality-based work ethic.”

FORTIS added: “We are always trying to perfect the perfection – since 1912. With Cástor we met a person that follows the same paths and that is why we are very proud to be the official timekeeper during his outstanding aerobatic flights and a reliable companion throughout.”

Cástor was born in Sangüesa, Pamplona, and has a Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Madrid’s Universidad Politécnica. After working in aircraft maintenance, his passion for aviation led him to become a pilot. He holds a Commercial Pilot’s License with Boeing 737, 757 and 767 ratings and is also a firefighting pilot. He is a flight instructor and has been a member of the Spanish National Acrobatic Team since 1999. He won his first Spanish Championship in 2002 and is a member of the Bravo3 Repsol team, alongside Juan Velarde and Anselmo Gámez.

Cástor was European Champion in 2014, won the bronze medal in the 2016 European Freestyle Championship, double bronze medals in the 2015 World Championship, and is 6-times Spanish Overall Champion and is officially recognised as an Elite Sportsman (DAN) by Spain’s National Sports Council since 2005. He has won more than 40 medals for Spain over the course of his sporting career, obtaining six top-category medals in a single competition (EAC 2014).

Fantoba is also a chosen brand ambassador for Spain with the special support of the Spanish government initiative “Brand Spain” MARCA ESPAÑA and is sponsored by the energy company Repsol,Grupo Albion, Marc VDS and Angry Fish. Repsol has been sponsoring Cástor as part of Bravo3 since 2011 and during that time, the Spanish pilot has chalked-up some of his greatest sporting victories.

Cástor Fantoba pilots a Sukhoi 31 and a Sukhoi 26. Both are single-seater, high-performance aircraft built from very strong, lightweight materials and composites, designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in Moscow. The Sukhoi 31 is a lighter, more powerful version of the Sukhoi 26. The engine used to power both of these aircraft is the nine-cylinder, air-cooled 400+hp Vedeneyev M14PF, which has a track record in sports aviation as the most robust and reliable motor in the world powered aerobatic circuit. The fuselage, propeller and engine are designed to withstand accelerations of up to 12G (12x the force of gravity), both positive and negative.

Sporting Highlights

Overall Spanish Champion 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

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