On Friday, 13 September 2024, in Tęgoborze, we had the pleasure of attending the celebration at the Mjr Pil. Jerzy Iszkowski Primary School and the announcement of the results of the National Art Competition Magic of Flight, of which the Museum was a co-organiser.
The National Art Competition Magic of Flight was held as part of International Children’s Day. The originator of the event was Stanisław Szarek — an artist, educator and Knight of the Order of the Smile.
The competition was addressed to children who, together with family members (siblings, parents or grandparents), a school group or a neighbourhood group (not exceeding 5 people), would create an artwork illustrating the theme: What would witches fly on today?
For the competition winners — over 200 entries were received from across Poland — the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, the Małopolskie Centrum Kultury “Sokół” in Nowy Sącz and the Provincial Pedagogical Library in Nowy Sącz organised workshops. Participants could assemble a wooden aircraft model, make and decorate a kite, or design a book illustration.
The Director of our Museum, Tomasz Kosecki, together with representatives of the other competition organisers, presented awards to the young artists.
The works of the competition winners can be viewed on the mezzanine in the Main Hangar of the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków from 1 October to 14 November 2024.
Polish female aviators — real-life, modern-day “witches”
The winners of the Magic of Flight competition also had the opportunity to meet outstanding Polish female aviators who visited Tęgoborze during the 25th Aerosabat — the Irena Kostka Rally of Polish Female Aviators.
During a conversation led by Ms Alicja Gołyźniak from MCK Sokół, the Polish female aviators:
spoke about the beauty of the airborne adventure, the difficulties that must be overcome, and the inspiration drawn from flying. They also mentioned the figure of an exceptional Polish female pilot, Second Lieutenant Janina Lewandowska, the only woman officer killed in Katyń.
On Saturday, as part of the jubilee Aerosabat celebrations, the Polish female aviators also visited the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.
During the visit, the participants of the Rally presented the Museum with the Dominik Medal (together with trial casts), awarded to the most distinguished female glider and aeroplane pilots, which was established by Fr. Dominik Marian Orczykowski (1927–2024), regarded as the chaplain of Polish aviators. The Museum also received from Ms Ewa Siedlecka a charming symbol of the Aerosabat rallies — a witch on a broomstick. These aviation memorabilia will enrich the exhibition devoted to the history of women in Polish aviation.
