Juan Velarde has been performing aerobatic flights since 1999 and is currently one of the leading Spanish pilots, showcasing solo and formation in aerobatic displays. He has been a part of the Spanish National Aerobatic Team and has an extensive track-record with two gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal at the Spanish National Championship. In 2010, Velarde won the Spanish Overall Aerobatic Championship and was the only Spaniard to compete in the Red Bull Air Race.
He is a commercial pilot for Iberia Airlines, flying as a Captain of long haul flights on the Airbus A330. He began flying gliders at age 15 and after finishing school he went to Anchorage, Alaska for a private pilot course. Once he returned to Spain he worked towing gliders while studying to become a commercial pilot between Madrid and Florida. He later became a flight instructor in Texas and back in Spain he worked as a freight pilot and joined Iberia at just 22 years old.
Juan began flying aerobatics when he was 25 and later joined the Spanish National Aerobatic Team. He took part in all the European and World Aerobatic Championships between 2004 and 2015, winning two Silver and two Bronze medals on Teams. He has been the Spanish Absolute Aerobatic Champion and has accumulated more than 25 medals in National Competitions.
Since 2014 until 2019 he has been the only Spanish pilot in the fastest motorsport series on the planet: the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, what has been considered the Formula 1 of the skies and where he has achieved several podiums and round victories.
He also performs solo and sinchronized aerobatics displays and, as an aviation enthusiast, he flies historic aircraft with the vintage airplane collection Fundación Infante de Orleans.
– 2025 and 2024 Spanish Free Style Aerobatic Champion (Gold Medal)
– Over 25 medals in Spanish Championships (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
– Silver Medal in Wold Championships and Silver and Bronze Medals in European Championships in Teams Classification.
– Former Red Bull Air Race Master Class pilot.
