He spent many years in the Mi-24 cockpit. Now he's making a immense effort to get another generation of pilots into a fresh era of chopper aviation. “With them in mind, I want to rebuild the capabilities of chopper aviation, which will benefit the full armed forces,” declared Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, winner of the Buzdygan’25 “Polish Armed Forces”.
August 2024. In Inowrocław, a contract is signed for the acquisition of 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters with logistics, training, ammunition and spare parts. – any people only want to see in it the acquisition of fresh equipment. I treat this as the beginning of a completely fresh era of Polish civilian aviation, says Colonel Pil. Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Head of the Military chopper Aviation Division at the Management Board of the chopper Aviation Command of the General Military Forces Types Command, has been active in the modernization programs of the armed forces in the chopper aviation area for years.
When Colonel Kwiatkowski began his service as a chopper pilot in 1999, the AH-64 had already grown legend – for example after their operational usage in Panama (Operation "Just Cause"), during the first war in the Gulf region. – Apache was then an unattainable device from the West. I didn't truly think about this helicopter, due to the fact that I was fascinated by Mi-24 – for me it was super technology – said Colonel Kwiatkowski.
After years of service in the country, he took part in missions to Iraq and Afghanistan. – As a Mi-24 pilot and key commander, I supported soldiers of subdivisions of the ground troops. I felt needed due to the fact that I saw how crucial our presence was to them – said Colonel Kwiatkowski. And it was there on a mission, 2 decades ago, that he first watched the American Apache work closely. – Working with the crews of American helicopters, I realized how much we are behind with our Mi-24 for AH-64, which had, for example, advanced designation and precise demolition systems. This was a generational gap, admits Colonel Kwiatkowski, who present is liable for the comprehensive modernization of chopper aviation in relation to AH-64.
His actions are based not only on the supervision of the implementation of the main contract (buying 96 AH-64E) and leasing (eight AH-64Ds utilized in Poland), but besides on the fulfilment of many auxiliary tasks associated with the implementation of this kind of chopper to the Armed Forces of Poland. For example, it is about exchanging experience with abroad users of AH-64 (Polish Apache Initiative Summit), organizing the first AH-64E rocket shooting in Europe or conducting a procedure to enable Polish pilots to start training abroad. Thus, Colonel Kwiatkowski is besides liable for restoring after 28 years the training of sub-commissioned officers for military helicopters (more on this subject in the February issue of the monthly issue “Polska Armorna”).
These tasks take up quite a few time and energy. – In half a joke, half a serious, Colonel Kwiatkowski works 2 shifts. In connection with the programme "Apache" must be in constant contact with Americans who operate in a different time zone, so his work does not end at 3.30 – says Brig. Gen. pil. Krzysztof Zwolinski of DGRSZ.
However, colleagues agree that the colonel is the right man in the right place. – Energetic in action, communicative, always looking for fresh solutions – says Colonel Mateusz Szymanski, commander of the 56th Air Base. – He is open, he can perceive and he can be relied on. His organizational actions have contributed to the unhindered training of the pilot group and the personnel of the engineering-aircraft service for the AH-64E chopper in the USA, as indicated by the commander of 56 Blot, who appreciates Colonel Kwiatkowski not only as an effective organizer but besides as an experienced pilot.
The colonel was drinking. Krzysztof Kwiatkowski has already more than 2.3 1000 hours of raiding and although he could focus exclusively on staff work, he does not intend to quit riding. – I am more focused on building a strategy around chopper aviation, but I stay an active pilot. In 2025, for example, I spent 10 days doing operational tasks at the east border of the state," says the Head of the Military chopper Division. As he emphasizes, he wants to do so so as not to lose contact with linear soldiers and perceive to their voices. “Conversations with them frequently give me much more than authoritative writings, so after all visit to the Air Force, I return to the General Command of the Polish Air Force with fresh ideas,” said Colonel Kwiatkowski.
Gen. Zwolinski confirms that the colonel is simply a kind of officer who not only knows what needs to be changed or improved in chopper aviation, but above all has a sense of mission and duty. Most importantly, he's not doing all this for himself. Young pilots will benefit from his commitment, who will shortly sit behind the rudders of fantastic machines and will definitely increase the combat possible of Polish chopper aviation – the general points out.
As a pilot, he admits that while AH-64 is the dream of many airmen, he will no longer take advantage of this opportunity. He'll shortly be 50 years old, so he won't be trained on this kind of helicopter, even by age. In his work on the AH-64 program he is driven by a completely different ambition. "With the future generations of pilots in mind, I want to rebuild the capabilities of chopper aviation, which will benefit the full armed force. The implementation of 96 AH-64E machines is part of this plan and a step into the future – concludes our winner.
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