General Milan Rastislav Štefánik is a person who can inspire Slovaks in determination, grandeur, courage and love for their homeland, Prime Minister Robert Fico stated at a commemorative event in Štefánik's native village of Košariská (Trenčín region) on the eve of the 96th anniversary of his tragic plane crash. Štefánik was one of the most instrumental figures in the setting up of Czechoslovakia in 1918. He died in a tragic plane crash near Bratislava on 4 May, 1919. Aviation aficionados from the Slovak Federation of Ultralight Aviation on Sunday also commemorated the anniversary of Štefánik's tragic plane crash by landing with their aircraft at the M.R. Štefánik Airport in Bratislava on Sunday afternoon. The planes, with Štefánik's effigy on their tails, were arranged in a formation of three machines in front and two machines flying in the rear in order to symbolise Štefánik's three-engine biplane Caproni Ca-33. The only existing replica of this aircraft is on display at Bratislava's M.R. Štefánik Airport.
Milan Rastislav Štefánik was one of the most significant figures of Slovakia's modern history. He was an outstanding astronomer, military pilot, French military general and one of the first Slovaks who several times ascended Mont Blanc. He contributed decisively to the cause of Czechoslovak sovereignty after WWI, along with the country's first president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
