Two extraordinary memorabilia with an international history have joined the collection of the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków — trophies from the 9th World Gliding Championships held in Argentina in 1963, won by Edward Makula.
On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków was visited by Jerzy Makula — Captain at LOT Polish Airlines and President of the Aeroclub of Poland. In a symbolic gesture connecting generations of the aviation family, he handed over his uncle’s legacy to the Museum Director, Tomasz Kosecki.
Edward Makula was an outstanding aeroplane and glider pilot, a multiple Polish national team member and one of the most important figures in Polish sport aviation. His mastery is confirmed by numerous distinctions, including the Tański Medal (1957), the Lilienthal Medal (1965) and the Gold Gliding Badge with 3 Diamonds. His triumph in the Open Class at the World Championships in Argentina in 1963 was an event of international importance and permanently inscribed itself in the history of world gliding.
The two donated trophies are silent witnesses of that success.
The first is an imposing silver cup donated by the Argentine company SIAM Di Tella Automotores — one of the largest Argentine industrial and automotive corporations at the time. The cup, of a classic form with handles and a figurine on top, bears an engraved inscription in Spanish:
TROFEO SIAM DI TELLA AUTOMOTORES – 9º CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL DE VOLO A VELISMO – JUNÍN, REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA – 1963
(transl. SIAM Di Tella Automotores Cup — 9th World Gliding Championships — Junín, Argentine Republic — 1963)
The second trophy is a richly decorated cup with a motif of a glider in flight placed on top and a massive pedestal. On the upper part, two inscriptions are engraved:
AL AEROCLUB DEL PILOTO – GANADOR DEL CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL DE VUELO A VELA CLASE ABIERTA
(transl. To the Aeroclub of the pilot — winner of the World Gliding Championships Open Class)
TROFEO FAUSTO TOSO – CLUB PLANEADORES MAR DEL PLATA – ARGENTINA
(transl. Fausto Toso Cup — Mar del Plata Gliding Club, Argentina)
In addition to the cups, a caricature depicting Jerzy Makula piloting a LOT Polish Airlines aircraft was also donated to the Museum, as a memento of his many years of work as an airline pilot.
All the memorabilia will soon be on display at the permanent exhibition “With the Wind and Against the Wind — Civil Aviation”, of which Jerzy Makula is the Ambassador. They will take their rightful place in the exhibition among many other cups and awards, which are not only valuable museum memorabilia but also a symbol of the passion, determination and mastery of Polish pilots.
The Museum extends its sincere thanks to Jerzy Makula for donating these exceptional memorabilia. It is thanks to such gestures that we can together cultivate the history of Polish aviation and inspire future generations. We invite you to visit the Museum and see these trophies up close.
