Two players selected by coach Alexandru Ciobanu for Romania’s U16 national team have recently had an extraordinary experience. Stefan Radulescu and Rareș Manolache, two young talents, flew over Ploiești, where they could see the Ilie Oană stadium from above, a venue familiar to them as they represent Petrolul. They are regular members of Petrolul’s youth team, and despite their young age, they have participated in several matches with the first team, including games in the Romanian Superliga. Radulescu even debuted in the Romanian Cup when he was 15.

The young national players, set to face Georgia and Turkey at the beginning of next month, were invited to an unusual adventure at Strejnicu Airport, where the "Avioane și Motoare" show is scheduled to take place on May 30th. The flight took place alongside Andreea Bănesaru, a pilot from the Romanian Aeroclub and a member of the Hawks of Romania formation, a significant presence in Romanian air shows. They flew at speeds exceeding 300 km/h and experienced a thrill beyond the training ground.

Upon returning to the ground, the players faced another challenge: car versus airplane. They were passengers in a Tesla Model S, which reached speeds of 200 km/h, competing against a small but powerful aircraft, the difference being in the acceleration and braking within a few hundred meters.

This will be one of the attractions at the "Avioane și Motoare – Ploiești Air Show 2026," taking place on May 30th at Strejnicu Airport, featuring aerial demonstrations, cars, motorcycles, spectacular races, a night air show, and fireworks, all free of charge.

The visit of these young footballers came ahead of one of the most important matches of the season. This Sunday, Petrolul’s youth team will compete for the Romanian Youth League Cup in Târgoviște, starting at 13:00. Their opponents will be ACS Bacău. The Petroliștii qualified for the final after eliminating Universitatea Cluj and Rapid, with both matches decided by penalty shootouts where Stefan Radulescu saved six penalties.