On Monday, June 15, 2026, the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow hosted a ceremony to donate memorabilia from Pelagia Majewska, the “Queen of the Skies,” one of the most distinguished figures in the history of Polish and global gliding, the first Polish woman and only the second woman in the world to be honored with the highest gliding distinction, the Liliethal Medal. The gift was donated by the aviator’s son, Sławomir Majewski.
The ceremony began with a welcome from the Director of the Polish Aviation Museum, Tomasz Kosecki, who emphasized the importance of preserving and sharing the testimonies of the lives and achievements of outstanding figures in Polish aviation.
Sławomir Majewski then spoke, donating memorabilia related to his mother’s activities and career to the Family Museum. The event had not only a museum dimension but also a symbolic one – it provided an opportunity to collectively commemorate a woman whose talent, determination, and achievements have left a lasting mark on the history of global gliding.
The Polish Aviation Museum has received 16 items documenting the extraordinary career of Pelagia Majewska. These include photographs, documents, awards, and personal memorabilia related to one of the most distinguished figures in the history of Polish gliding. Two exceptional sports trophies hold a special place in the collection – the Czesław Tański Medal and the Lilienthal Medal – the first examples of these prestigious awards in the Polish Aviation Museum’s collection.
The Czesław Tański Medal is Poland’s highest gliding distinction. Established by the Polish Aeroclub to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the development of gliding and air sports, it is awarded extremely rarely and, for nearly seventy years, has been awarded exclusively to the most distinguished pilots, instructors, and aviation activists. Pelagia Majewska received it in 1956, becoming the first glider pilot to receive this distinction, a recognition of her outstanding sporting achievements from the beginning of her international career.
Even more prestigious on the world stage is the Lilienthal Medal, established by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) in memory of German aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal. It is the highest and most prestigious distinction awarded to glider pilots for outstanding aviation achievements and special contributions to the development of gliding. In 1960, Pelagia Majewska became the first Polish woman and only the second woman in history to receive it. She was awarded the distinction for her impressive sporting achievements, including record-breaking flights and achievements that made her one of the most recognizable glider pilots in the world.
Later in the meeting, friends, colleagues, and members of the aviation community shared their memories of Pelagia Majewska. Maksymiliana Czmiel-Paszyc, a longtime Polish glider representative, member of the national glider team, participant in international gliding competitions, and recipient of the Pelagia Majewska Medal, as well as Urszula Bocheńska-Wojda, European gliding champion and one of Poland’s most distinguished glider pilots, spoke about the legendary glider pilot.
Władysław Bubień, an honorary member of the Polish Aeroclub and co-author of a book on the post-war history of the Lublin Aeroclub, and Marek Siuta, our museum guide and a passionate enthusiast of Polish aviation history, also shared their memories. Their presentations introduced the participants to the sporting successes of the “Queen of the Skies,” as well as her personality and influence on the aviation community.
The ceremony was also accompanied by a board exhibition dedicated to the life and achievements of Pelagia Majewska, prepared especially for the occasion by the Polish Aviation Museum team. The exhibition was displayed in the conference room where the donation ceremony took place. Attendees could experience the richly illustrated story of one of the world’s greatest glider pilots, from her first steps in aviation to her greatest sporting successes. In the same space, some of the memorabilia donated to the Museum, including the most valuable awards and documents related to the career of the “Queen of the Skies,” were also displayed in a special display case, allowing guests to see them up close before they were added to the museum collection.
Following the official portion of the event, participants were invited to explore the Polish Aviation Museum’s new permanent exhibition, “With the Wind and Against the Wind – Civil Aviation,” recently awarded the prestigious Sybilla 2025 Award in the “New and Modernized Permanent Exhibitions” category. The exhibition takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the history of Polish civil aviation – from the pioneering days, when flying was a daring experiment and an adventure accessible only to a select few, to the present day. Gliders, a symbol of the Polish aviation school and the source of many of our pilots’ global successes, hold a special place within the exhibition. The guided tour was led by Museum Director Tomasz Kosecki.
It is within this exhibition space that memorabilia from Pelagia Majewska, donated to the Museum, will also be displayed. This will integrate the story of one of the world’s greatest glider pilots into the narrative of the development of Polish civil aviation, and visitors will be able to see up close both her most valuable sporting trophies and memorabilia documenting the extraordinary life of the “Queen of the Skies.” In this way, Pelagia Majewska’s achievements will become an integral part of the new exhibition, reminding future generations of her contribution to the development of Polish and global gliding.
The event was attended by, among others:
