The 62nd Franciszek Żwirko South-Western Poland Flight Is Over

This event, with a rich tradition spanning over 95 years, is considered the oldest aviation sport event in the world. This year’s edition was combined with the 68th Polish Senior Aircraft Navigation Championships and the 53rd Polish Junior Aircraft Navigation Championships.

Competition winners:

Seniors – 68th Polish Aircraft Navigation Championships:

• Kamil Wieczorek (Kraków Aero Club) – Polish Champion,
• Michał Wieczorek (Kraków Aero Club) – Polish Vice Champion,
  additionally honoured with the Kraków Aviation Seniors Club award for winning the landing competition and the prestigious Polish Aero Club perpetual trophy, presented by President Jerzy Makula,
• Michał Bartler (Stalowa Wola Aero Club) – 3rd place.

Juniors – 53rd Polish Junior Aircraft Navigation Championships:

• Edward Gąsior (State University of Applied Sciences in Chełm) – Polish Junior Champion,
• Borys Ziobrowski (Lubusz Land Aero Club) – Polish Junior Vice Champion,
• Michał Kaczor (PANS in Chełm) – 3rd place.

Special recognition goes to Igor Fałowski, competing in the Junior category, who took second place in the combined landing category, earning only 5 penalty points in very difficult conditions – an impressive achievement, especially for such a young pilot.

A distinction was also awarded to Esther Rimensberger from Switzerland, who became the best female competitor of the event. Four women took part in this year’s edition – Esther’s participation and success deserve special recognition.

Tradition, sport and remembrance

The South-Western Poland Flight is not only a sporting competition, but also a commemoration of Franciszek Żwirko – an outstanding pilot, winner of the prestigious Challenge in 1932, who also triumphed twice in the Kraków competitions.

As a Museum that has been preserving the memory of Polish aviation history for years – military, civil and sport aviation alike – we proudly support initiatives promoting aviation heritage. Our partnership in the competition organised by the Kraków Aero Club is for us not only an opportunity to support the aviation community, but also a continuation of our educational mission.

We warmly congratulate all competition participants – both winners and organisers – and are already looking forward to the next edition of this exceptional event!

We invite you to view the photo report.

Photos by Piotr Fuz and Sebastian Dąbek – photographers of the Kraków Aero Club, and Jarosław Dobrzyński of the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.