Why the show? Why is the military involved? possibly it's better if they train, not do stunt shows?" After the Radom disaster, Poles started asking quite a few questions, having quite a few doubts, questioning the sense of the shows. What do you think?
I do air shows myself. I know them from the inside. I flew as a show pilot at shows in Poland and Europe. After the service ended, I took care of organizing air shows. But I like to ride it as a spectator too. And I will always be a show advocate. It's truly very spectacular.
What's their point? Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army, himself admitted that he had doubts about whether specified a show made sense and that Maciej Krakowian persuaded him to organize specified events. And the MON just stopped all the shows until further notice.
The average Kowalski can't see on a regular basis the capabilities of these aircraft and pilot skills, who frequently train all year circular to show only 10-15 minutes of flight and acrobatics at 1 show.
These shows attract tens of thousands of people. I organize them in tiny towns and come to them for 20-30 1000 people. From what I can see, these shows are coming year after year, so there's demand. This year they were held practically all weekend, from May to the end of August.
There's quite a few them and they're detailed to perfection.
Now, after the Radom disaster, I read opinions that the rules and safety rules should be tightened up. But they are already so sharp that catastrophes happen very seldom in the shows. And the 1 in Radom, and the 1 in Gdynia last year, happened during training.
There's nothing to sharpen. I wouldn't go that way. In my opinion, this has nothing to do with yesterday's disaster, to quit shows, to restrict them, or to tighten the rules. I hope that in the military there are conclusions, but they're not just about not flying. due to the fact that that's not the point at all.
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Did you know Major Maciej "Slab" Krakowian who died in the crash?
I did. I just saw him. It was a show pilot, so we met at most shows. He was very open, always uncovering time for the audience. He was walking, talking, answering questions. large guy.
He was very fond of taking part in these shows, wasn't he?
Yeah. He was specified an incendiary man. He didn't avoid the media, he liked to talk about what he was doing. For 3 years "Slab" was the only F-16 show pilot in Poland. There was no another pilot trained for shows.
There was no 1 else?
Only 1 individual is trained to participate in shows all year round, whether in Poland or abroad. He represents our country and shows the capabilities of this plane. This is 1 pilot in Poland.
In general, there may be 1 show pilot. On any planes, most likely on Migach 29 (as I remember), there was a second alternate who besides trained. But in general, 1 flew.
How did Slab become specified a pilot?
There's a full squad of people working at the shows, like expression One. This includes over 20 technicians, safety watcher, commentator. quite a few people make certain it's spectacular and safe. "Slab" had quite a few experience on the F-16, but for years he worked with the band in which another show pilot flew.
He served as an observer. As an experienced pilot, he gave clues from the ground about what that pilot up there might not have noticed, e.g. about birds, or about something happening on the waist.
I'm assuming that right now there's a watcher in the band that would most likely replace him in time. That's how it's done.
Did he practice on the same F-16 he was on?
We don't have a peculiar plane to show. The F-16 is simply a bit different for the shows. These are cosmetic changes, but yes, these are the same planes. "Slab" was on active duty. usually he did his duty, and additionally trained and sustained all the habits of show flying, which is circumstantial and different from flying. To participate in shows, you gotta train, train, train.
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In the comments, it is very clear present that active pilots should not participate in specified shows. Or that the same aircraft should not be utilized for shows. What does it look like in another countries?
Of course, the F-16 was not designed to fly at shows just to defender the sky. But the F-16s abroad participate. There are air teams that represent the country internationally, presenting themselves at air shows.
And in fact, in specified teams, the chosen pilots fly. The best pilots from various units who no longer participate in the combat process. They only focus on shows. This is their main job. The full year's been shown. These teams train day by day, practice and fly around the planet for shows. This doesn't apply to F-16 pilots, these teams fly different planes depending on the country.
However, in many countries, in the USA too, it happens that alleged soloists pilots – i.e. like "Slab", flying individually – usually service in active service, and are trained as show pilots during the shows. It is not that the situation in Poland is any kind of phenomenon.
As for F-16, there is no specified band in Poland. But there is simply a group that flies in Orlik. Before that, we had a world-famous show group called White-Red Sparks.
Some people present think these shows are a circus. There are voices that, above all, military aircraft should not participate. That Poland lost both the best pilot and the plane, which we do not have many. 1 comment: "War is not an estradist to show off in front of the public".
I disagree. I'm in favour of military aircraft showing at all shows. They do not request to show full skills and capabilities of this equipment if there is no need. They can just fly and snort. However, it is always worth to emphasize that we have specified aircraft. Show us what our air force has. Especially now, at a time erstwhile we're at war.
These shows besides service as children coming to them, looking at those planes with their faces separated, and wanting to be a pilot. I number on it very frequently myself. And if the kids don't see a military plane or a helicopter, they might not want to be military pilots.
W Are your shows included in military aircraft?
In the shows I've been organizing for years, military aircraft have always been involved. And always – how many civilian acrobats I would not download – the most awesome is simply a military aircraft, even if it does not execute any acrobats. People like that very much.
On the another hand, after the plane crash of Bielik M346 last year in Gdynia, erstwhile a very experienced military show pilot was killed, the military prohibited military aircraft from participating in civilian air shows.
That's the conclusion then, but I don't think it's that way. The logic's gone besides far. individual was motivated by the fact that if something didn't fly, there wouldn't be accidents.
Therefore, in 2024 and 2025 military aircraft did not participate in civilian shows. Shows have been lost on show and I know that people miss it. Together with another show organizers, we see that erstwhile individual presents the show's program, there are questions about whether there will be military aircraft on social media. I'm certain any people ride them just to see them.
On the another hand, AirShow in Radom is 1 of the largest air shows in Europe, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people. And these are military shows, so aircraft must be. That's why in this case military aircraft are the main attraction. Hence, among another things, so much interest in this show.
What do you think Major Maciej "Slab" Krakowian would say if he heard all these discussions about the shows?
"Slab" would definitely say what I said. That shows make perfect sense. He would say show up, cheer the audience and advance the military. He was. He liked shows and lived it.
Why "Slab"?
I don't know. all combat car pilot has a code name. But why "Slab"? I've never asked.
