The first Sybilla in the history of the Polish Aviation Museum has a special taste. A few days after winning the most important award in Polish museums, the Museum staff gathered to celebrate the success of the exhibition “With the Wind and Against the Wind – Civil Aviation,” which was recognized as the best new permanent exhibition in Poland. There was cake, souvenir photos with the statuette, and above all, satisfaction with the distinction, which is the culmination of many years of work by the entire team.
On Thursday, May 28, the Polish Aviation Museum hosted a special staff meeting to celebrate winning an award in the 46th Sybilla 2025 Museum Event of the Year Competition. Our new permanent exhibition, “With the Wind and Against the Wind – Civil Aviation,” received recognition, winning first place in the “New and Modernized Permanent Exhibitions” category.
This is a special success, as it is the first Sybilla in the history of the Polish Aviation Museum—an institution that has been telling the story of Polish Wings for over six decades and protecting one of the most valuable aviation collections in Europe.
After returning from the gala in Gdańsk, it was time to celebrate with those without whom this success would never have been possible. A symbolic victory cake awaited the employees in the hangar that has become home to the award-winning exhibition. There were congratulations, memories of the project’s long-standing implementation, and souvenir photos with the Sybilla statuette, often called the “museum Oscar.”
It was a moment of joy, but also of reflection on the enormous work done by museum staff, conservators, designers, educators, historians, technical specialists, and all Museum employees who have contributed to the creation of the new exhibition over the years.
The Sybilla competition, organized by the National Institute of Museums, has been considered the most prestigious award granted to Polish museums for over forty years. Each year, awards are given to projects that set the highest standards in heritage protection, education, research, and the creation of modern exhibitions.
The award for the Polish Aviation Museum was presented during a gala at the Artus Court in Gdańsk. The statuette was accepted by Museum Director Tomasz Kosecki, Ewa Cuber-Strutyńska – Chief Registrar and Head of the Collections Department, and Zuzanna Kaczorowska – Promotion and Marketing Coordinator.
The award-winning exhibition “With the Wind and Against the Wind – Civil Aviation” is one of the largest exhibitions dedicated to civil aviation in Europe. Over 3,000 square meters of space house over 40 aircraft and hundreds of unique exhibits telling the history of Polish civil aviation.
However, it is much more than just an aircraft exhibition. It is a story of courage, dreams, innovation, and the extraordinary achievements of successive generations of Poles. It tells the story of pilots achieving world records, designers creating innovative technical solutions, athletes achieving success on international arenas, and pioneers who helped shape the history of global aviation.
Visitors can see, among other things, Gliders of world champions, record-breaking aircraft, historic LOT Polish Airlines aircraft, and priceless memorabilia related to the greatest successes of Polish sports and commercial aviation.
The history presented in the exhibition reminds us that for over a hundred years, Poles have been among the world’s leaders in many fields of aviation. The successes of our pilots, glider pilots, balloonists, designers, and engineers have often set new directions for the development of global aviation.
At a time when there is so much talk about the need to build community and cultivate national identity, the exhibition “With the Wind and Against the Wind – Civil Aviation” presents a history we can be truly proud of. The history of people who, through talent, courage, and determination, made the red and white checkerboard recognizable around the world.
Therefore, we cordially invite you to visit this award-winning exhibition. It’s not just an encounter with the fascinating history of aviation, but also a journey through one of the most beautiful chapters of Polish technical, sporting, and organizational thought. The exhibition, which won the Sybilla 2025, is, above all, a story about people whose achievements remain a source of inspiration and national pride to this day.
