Polish Aviation Festival in Krakow – the last Sunday of August will be truly cool! On August 25, at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, we will celebrate the 90th anniversary of 2 major Polish victories in global competitions of tourist and balloon aircraft. For visitors there is the power of impressions, including: flight simulators, military equipment exhibition, technological experiments, presentation of the Mars rover and rocket with jet drive, field game... And in good weather additional attractions in the air!
This year, the Polish Aviation Festival is connected with the 90th anniversary of the triumph of Polish crew: pilot Jerzy Bajan and mechanic Gustav Korzywka on the RWD-9 aircraft in the prestigious global aviation competition Challenge 1934. We will besides celebrate the 90th anniversary of the triumph of Franciszek Hynka and Władysław Pomaski in the 21st Gordon Bennett Cup - the oldest and most renowned balloon competition in the world. For this reason, this year's Polish Aviation Day has a peculiar dimension and we prepare a number of educational and cultural attractions – said Tomasz Kosecki, Dyrek-tor of the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow.
Although this year's Christmas edition will only take 1 day, the program looks truly interesting. It includes both lovers of military technology, painting, automotive (historical and sporting), modeling, gliders and even fascinations with space technology!
Memoir of air victories on the rank of the Mundial
On the occasion of the anniversary of 2 Polish air victories from 1934, during the celebration of the Polish Aviation Festival at the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow, exhibitions and pre-courses will be held, among others: Heroes of Polish Wings. The winning crews of the 1934 Challenge and the 1933-35 Gordon Bennett Cup. The past of the Challenge will be discussed by Zygmunt Sze-remeta – a associate of the Krakow Aviation elder Club and author of many publications on aviation topics, while Dr. Krzysztof Mroczkow-ski, Deputy manager of the Polish Aviation Museum for Science, will talk about the Gordon Bennett Cup.
A discussion panel was besides provided with the participation of Jack Bogdanski and Przemysław Mościc-ki, who flew Eagle White by balloon in the 66th Gordon Bennett Cup in 2023. They-they competed in Albuquerque and flew 827.48 km during 1d 12h 10m 33s.
In addition, the Museum will open to visitors a part which is not available all day – on the first level of the main building, which is the pearl of modern architecture and 1 of the most recognizable buildings in Krakow, 1 can see, among others, the first Chal-lenge Cup and the Gordon Bennett Cup on debt from the Aeroclub of Poland, as well as a replica of the winning hot air balloons made by Sławomir Intek from the Pra-cow of Intek-Art from Toruń. However, this is not the only attraction for art lovers - during the Polish Aviation Festival there will besides be the beginning of the painting exhibition Volare Bogumiła Book, which is part of the series Loty, for which the author received the Witold Wojtkiewicz Award 2024.
Reach the clouds, scope the stars!
The Polish Aviation Festival is not only an event commemorating the success of Polish airmen – it is besides a origin of inspiration and chance to meet modern innovators in the field of aviation and cosmonautics.
Created by students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics AGH - AGH Space Systems - will present not only a rocket with jet-drive, but besides awarded many times at competitions in the US Mars rover - Kalman. With the green hydrogen technologies utilized to drive vehicles, the participants of the AGH task Hydrodrive event will be introduced to the AGH Drone Engineering team, and drone fans will be able to meet the AGH Innovators. About how the modern civilian airport works, what the passenger way looks like and whom we thank-have efficient clearances for vacation (and not only) flights will be told by experts from the Kraków Airport Aviation Education Centre.
Best to come with the kids!
At the Polish Aviation Festival, families with children are especially welcome – the Milusinian families up to the age of 7 can participate for free, and children of school age will only pay symbolic PLN 2 for admission.
Many attractions are planned for them! Partners of events specified as the Małopolska Cogiteon discipline Centre, the Institute of National Memory, FabLab Małopolska and the AK Museum have prepared many workshops, educational games and demonstrations of experiments. In the Mu-zeum of Polish Aviation shelter you will be able to build a wooden model of helicopter, and at the stack of Bzików Land you will get a washable aerial tattoo. The organizers besides encourage you to participate in an air field game, during which you get further parts of the aircraft to your own hand folding. And I'm certain the kids won't get past the VR flight simulators and parachute simulators!
Polish Aviation Festival – it is worth to enter in the calendar
Since 2021, the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow organizes the Polish Aviation Festival on all holiday, which is intended to bring the participants closer to the planet achievements of Polish airmen and the aviation traditions of Małopolska.
The Polish Aviation Festival reminds that we Poles besides have reasons for pride in the aviation area, and it is not only about the spectacular triumph of Franciszek Żwirka and Stanisław Wigura in the 1932 global Turistic Aircraft Competition, but besides about the accomplishment of our engineers, designers, balloonists, gliders, experimental and intellectual pilots... This is simply a wonderful legacy, these are stories about courage, innovation, fresh routes, stories that should inspire subsequent generations – says Tomasz Kosecki, manager of the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow.
Under favorable weather conditions, you can besides admire the attractions in the sky. During the vacation celebrations there were airplanes, parachute jumps, and outdoor hot air balloon shows.
Polish Aviation Festival Programme – Sunday 25.08.201224
10:30 - Holy Mass for airmen
11:30 - Appeal of the Deceased
12:30 - Parachuting and flight of aircraft*
13.10 - performance of the Air Force Representation Orchestra
14:00 - beginning of the Volare exhibition – paintings by Bogumiła Book
3:30 p.m. - Exhibition beginning and presentation: Heroes of Polish Wings. The winning crews of the 1934 Challenge and the 1933-35 Gordon Bennett Cup. - Discussion panel on the Gordon Bennett Cup attended by Jack Bogdanski and Przemysław Mościcki
6 p.m. - Hot air balloon show
10:30 – 19:00 – in addition:
• exhibition of military weapons and equipment,
• exhibition of historical and sports cars,
• stand and presentation of equipment of uniform services,
• flight and parachute simulators,
• technological experiments of the Małopolska Cogiteon discipline Centre,
• presentation of the Kraków Airport Aviation Education Centre,
• information and education stands of discipline and culture institutions,
• an aviation field game,
• presentations of Małopolskie Aeroclubs,
• demonstrations of historical reconstruction groups,
• educational and model workshops,
• the mobile blood donation point “Bloobus”,
• a fun town,
• catering stands
The honorary patronage over the event was:
Małopolski Voivodeship Krzysztof Jan Klęczar, Marshal of Małopolska Voivodeship Łukasz Smółka, and Aeroclub of Poland.
The patron of the event is Kraków Airport.
Details about the Polish Aviation Festival 2024: https://museumaircraft.pl/
Written by Zuzanna Kaczorowska
