The painter Czeslaw Tanski, inspired by the experiments in heavier-than-air flight conducted by Otto Lilienthal in Germany, began building a glider in 1894 in Wygoda near Janow Podlaski, which he called Lotnia (Hang Glider), made of wood and fabric. The first, rather unsuccessful trials took place in the summer of 1895. He ran holding the glider above his head, but was unable to lift off the ground.
In the winter of 1895/1896, Tanski modified the glider by adding a tail unit. This version was named Lotnia II. He managed to make several jumps on it, launching from a running start and from a 3.5 m high scaffold. Control was achieved by shifting the centre of gravity using leg movements.
In 1896, the Lotnia III version was created with wing area increased from 7 to 12 m2. Tanski made several flights on it covering distances of up to 30 metres. These were the first documented gliding attempts on Polish territory.
Tanski’s glider ended up in the Museum of Industry and Technology in Warsaw, where it was destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.
| Wingspan | 11 m |
| Length | 3.8 m |
| Wing area | 12 m2 |
| Empty weight | 25 kg |
| Total weight | approx. 90 kg |
| Glide ratio | approx. 4 |
| Minimum sink rate | 2 m/s |
