The Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow, founded nearly fifty years ago, had previously had four hangars housing exhibits and buildings serving office and maintenance functions. Appropriate conditions for the dignified presentation of collections related to people associated with aviation – their uniforms, decorations, and flight logs – were lacking. During winter, educational activities were hampered in the poorly heated hangars. Thanks to the completion of the New Main Building in the spring of this year, this situation will improve.
It is located at the end of Marian Markowski Street. The building was
constructed between 2008 and 2010 and financed under the Małopolska Regional Operational Programme for 2007–2013. The value of the investment entitled “Construction of the Aviation Cultural Park in Krakow, including the Main Building of the Polish Aviation Museum” amounted to PLN 45.8 million net. PLN 10.6 million net was allocated from the Małopolska Regional budget, and PLN 35.2 million net from EU funds. In addition to the project, the Region contributed an extra PLN 1.3 million net.
The ceremony gathered over 200 guests, including representatives of state and local government authorities, diplomats, architects, museum professionals, and the broadly understood aviation community – civilian and military pilots, as well as aviation veterans. Friends and collaborators of the Polish Aviation Museum, who support initiatives such as the Małopolska Aviation Picnic and the organisation of conferences and exhibitions, were also present.
Before the white-and-red ribbon was cut, a series of speeches took place. The gathering was hosted by the Director of the Krakow Opera, Bogusław Nowak. Those involved in the creation of the building spoke about the completed structure. Among the speakers were, among others: Marshal of the Małopolska Region Marek Nawara, Voivode of Małopolska Stanisław Kracik, Deputy Mayor of Krakow Wiesław Bielawski, Senator of the Republic of Poland Janusz Sepioł, President and CEO of the general contractor Budostal 2 S.A. Tadeusz Dulba, representatives of the designers Justus Pysall and Bartłomiej Kisielewski, and Enrico Muscetra, the author of the Icarus sculpture that is to stand in front of the Museum entrance.
The consecration of the building was performed by the Prelate Pastor of the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krakow, Monsignor Bronisław Fidelus. The meeting also included the decoration of individuals who had distinguished themselves for the Polish Aviation Museum: Director Krzysztof Radwan, Dr Krzysztof Mroczkowski, and Tomasz Krzaczyński. The Polish Aviation Museum honoured its benefactors with Icaro Grande statuettes by E. Muscetra. The official part of the ceremony concluded with the cutting of the ribbon by the Marshal of the Małopolska Region M. Nawara, and pilot Mark Szufa unfurled a symbolic white contrail across the sky.
