Babia Góra, also known as the Queen of the Beskids, rises proudly above the surrounding mountains, luring daredevils and nature enthusiasts to discover it. It also tempted aviators.
In April 1924, the Aviation Section of the Mechanical Engineers’ Circle of Students at the Warsaw University of Technology built a glider designed by student Adam Karpiński, initially designated “A.K.,” later renamed “Akar” and bearing the number SL-1. Members of this Section organized a glider expedition to Babia Góra, taking “Akar” with them.
During this expedition, on April 8, 1924, T. Karpiński made a flight lasting 4 minutes and 5 seconds (a new national record), reaching a height of 50 meters above the launch point and covering 2 km. In the final phase of this flight, the glider, making a forced landing, damaged its wing and broke the fuselage truss.
