On Tuesday, 14 January, we had the pleasure of hosting Mr Mirosław Gajewski and Mr Władysław Bubień — representatives of the Lublin Aeroclub, who, carrying out the wishes of the family of the outstanding Polish engineer and aviation designer Jerzy Rudlicki, donated a memento of him to the Polish Aviation Museum: a display case containing a collection of decorations.
In the first two weeks of January, the Polish Aviation Museum acquired over 100 new museum objects! Among them were aviation competition trophies and diplomas, flight clothing and manuals, memoirs and mementoes of distinguished aviators. The most valuable acquisition is the display case with the decorations of Jerzy Rudlicki shown below.
We are convinced that the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków is the most appropriate institution in which the mementoes of a world-class designer, whose solutions are used in modern aircraft, should be housed — read the letter of intent accompanying the donated exhibit.
Jerzy Rudlicki (1893–1977) — was an outstanding aviation engineer and aircraft designer. His greatest achievement is considered to be the creation and patenting of the butterfly tail — still used in modern aviation and the defence industry (e.g. in drones). He designed gliders and aircraft, and during the interwar period worked in the Polish aviation industry, developing among others the Lublin R-XIII aircraft and the first Polish ambulance aircraft. During World War II, he worked on innovative aviation inventions, and after the war he worked in the USA at Republic Aviation, improving aircraft and astronautical designs. For his services, he was decorated with, among others, the Cross of Valour and the Legion of Honour.
We are honoured that, thanks to the wishes of Jerzy Rudlicki’s daughter and grandson — Mrs Teresa Rudlicka-Budaszewska and Mr Jerzy Walentynowicz — our collection has been enriched by such a precious acquisition.
The display case with Jerzy Rudlicki’s collection of decorations will be on view as part of the Museum’s new permanent exhibition “With the Wind and Against the Wind. Civil Aviation“, which will be opened to the public in autumn 2025 — we cordially invite you already!
