Mazury 2012-09-01
Aviation Masuria in 2012.
Probably no one expected that the Wilamowo Airport, or rather the young Aero Club of the Lake District, would spread its wings so much and would appear on the map of the Republic of Poland as a promoter of Polish Aviation and Masuria. Both for those who fly and for those who only watch planes from the ground.
But from the beginning.
After the poor 1980s, socio-economic changes followed. The run-down Wilamowo Airport was put up for sale and was one of the few in Poland to find a group of enthusiasts who dared to buy it.
In 1998, as a result of a tender, Wilamowo Airport was bought by four private individuals. On September 4, 1998, the new owners organized a founding meeting of the new institution – the Lakeland Aeroclub. Already on September 18, 1998, the Aero Club of the Republic of Poland positively considered the application to reactivate the Kętrzyński Aero Club, under the new name of the Lake District Aero Club. The main owner, Mr. Stanisław Tołwiński, took 55 percent of the shares. The other three owners each owned 15 percent. Mr. Stanisław Tołwiński is the president of the Aero Club of the Lake District.
The new owners have shown a great willingness to act. From August 1999, they began to organize occasional and cyclical aviation, military and picnic events. They popularize aviation and its history. They establish contacts with neighbors and aviation enthusiasts from almost all over the world. It was the beginning of an era of great activity and intensive reactivation of the Wilamowo Airport.
The Lake District Aero Club, carrying out its statutory tasks at the airport, organizes over a dozen cyclical – open to the public aviation events in the summer season (from May to October). The season of events always starts on May 1 with an event called "Prologue – Aviation Picnic with the Army" and ends in October with a celebration called "Memorial Day of Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński and John Paul II".
The most important event organized at the airport since 1999 is the "International Rally of Friends of Aviation – Masuria Aviation Festival". In 2008, the first major jubilee of the Masuria Aviation Festivals was celebrated – it was the tenth and impressive edition. It has always been and still is the largest public non-profit aviation event in Poland. From 70 to 100 aircraft and about 30,000 observers came to the Festival in different years. Entry to the airport for party enthusiasts is free.
In the period 2002 – 2007, on the initiative of the Aero Club of the Lake District, 6 editions of the European Aviation Fair were organized, which gave the opportunity for an integration meeting of the international aviation community.
In 2007, they were awarded by the Polish Aero Club with the organization of the Polish Championships in Glider and Airplane Aerobatics, for the organization and course of which they were highly appreciated by the participants and the management of the Polish Aero Club.
In 2008, they were entrusted with organizing the European An-2 Airplane Rally, which was considered the largest so far, and AKJ received many congratulations from international circles and various institutional satisfaction.
In recognition of the aviation events carried out at the airport in 2008, the Aero Club of the Lake District received, inter alia, the "Tourist Product of the Year 2008" award from the Warmia and Mazury Regional Tourist Organization, as well as the jury of the "Best Product and Service of Warmia and Masuria" competition in competition, "other services", rated the air events the highest, awarding the prestigious statuette.
In 2009, the Ministry of Sport and Tourism awarded AKJ the Honorary Badge "For Merit to Tourism". In 2011, AKJ was again awarded by W-MROT with the "Tourist Product of the Year 2011" certificate for organizing and popularizing air rallies as a new form of tourism.
2011 was a continuation of 12 years of experience of many "Masuria Aviation Festivals". The most important intention of 2011 was the continuation of the impressive air show called "Mazury Air Show 2011" carried out in Giżycko on Lake Niegocin. On the other hand, attractive offers for aircraft crews were an important element of the "International Rally of Friends of Aviation and Masuria", which was attended by Masuria enthusiasts from Europe.
In 2012, the organizers continued their extensive activities, including the International Rally of Friends of Aviation and Masuria, the finale of which was the Mazury Air Show 2012, at Lake Niegocin in Giżycko and at the Wilamowo Airport itself.
Mazury Air Show 2012.
It was only in 2012 that I managed to see one of the most attractive aviation events in the Republic of Poland – Mazury Air Show 2012. I am convinced that there is no similar air show anywhere in the world. Firstly, because it takes place in three places at once (maybe four in the future). In Giżycko on Lake Niegocin, in Ełk on Lake Ełckie, at the Wilamowo Airport, and in the future in Mrągowo. Secondly, admission is free.
The participants of the shows arrived already in the middle of the week preceding the event. They were guests from the USA, Sweden, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Germany and, of course, Poland. A replica of the RWD-5 R plane flew from Nowy Sącz. A DC-3 plane came from Sweden. They flew in; Xenon II gyroplanes, Kania Aviation Police helicopter from Krakow, a team of two Jak-52 planes, SW-4 Puszczyk helicopter, Mi-24 helicopter of the Polish Land Forces, The Flying Bulls team, 3AT3 Formation Flying Teams, Kauno Aeroklubas on two Yak-52s, Biało-Czerwone Iskry from Dęblin and many others.
Air Show 2012 was to start on August 3, 2012, on Friday, with shows at Lake Ełckie. Unfortunately, the storm over Ełk thwarted the plans. Only one plane flew over the lake and landed. There were supposed to be 11 planes.
This year, the main shows took place on August 4-5, 2012, in Giżycko on Lake Niegocin, in a wonderful scenery and in perfect weather. The show was commented on by the gentlemen; Tadeusz Sznuk and Jakub Kulecki. On the beach around the lake, aviation enthusiasts and whole families with children gathered to admire the hours-long sky and water show. The vast majority of viewers are tourists spending their holidays in Masuria. But there were also aviation enthusiasts from all over Poland, as well as from abroad. I have personally met Czechs and Hungarians who have come to spotting on purpose. (Some inconvenience for the spotters was the shooting direction straight south into the sun).
Mazury Air Show is the only place in Poland where the audience has the opportunity to admire the unusual flying machines, which are seaplanes. Only here can they fully demonstrate their landing and take-off possibilities directly from the lake’s surface, the shores of which constitute a natural amphitheater for the public, ensuring great visibility.
This year’s edition featured many extraordinary machines. First of all, there was a demonstration of the Sikorsky S-38 aircraft. This is the famous American twin-engine amphibious aircraft, known as the Explorers’ Sky Yacht.
The star of the shows was the band from Czech The Flying Bulls. It was not their first visit to Poland. They presented, among others, in Guraszka in 2011. This Czech aerobatic team was founded in 1960. Initially, it was called Box Trener. The founders of the team were four pilots: Tlusty, Struz, Bezak and Klimenda. Initially, the team’s base airport was a small flying club airfield in Chrudim (about 100 km east of Prague). From the beginning of flying together, they were characterized by remarkable precision and professionalism. They quickly gained recognition in the aviation community of the then Czechoslovakia, they also performed abroad, i.e. in the free world. Unfortunately, the Czechoslovak authorities did not like the successes very much, and after receiving the Diplôme d’Honneur from the International Aviation Federation (FAI) in 1982, the team’s activities were suspended. Only after the political changes in our southern neighbors, the band was reactivated in 1989 as Unimax Devil. The composition of the team has also changed partially. After another sponsor change, the team was renamed Sky Box. They also got new Zlin 50LX planes, and they still fly on this type of plane today. In 1999, FAI organized another World Grand Prix of Aviation competition, the team took part in qualifying rounds in China and Japan, in which they took first places. This team was the first to fly in the formation through the Tianmen Cave (the rift is 30 m wide and 90 m high). In 2001, they changed the sponsor. This time on Red Bull. Therefore, there was another change of the band’s name to The Flying Aerobatics Team. Also in 2001, they won the FAI-organized NIPPON GRAND PRIX in Motegi, Japan. In the following year (2002) the new leader of the team was a woman, Radka Machowa. The other three pilots are: Jiří Saller, Jiří Veprek and Miroslav Krejčí. Over the last 10 years, they have flown at many shows, perfecting their artistry. Most of the team has been flying over 5,000 hours. From the beginning, they flew in a formation of four planes. Currently, the team uses aerobatic planes of the Czech production Zlin 50LX. The planes are equipped with a Lycoming AEIO 540 L1B5D engine, 300 HP, max. the speed is 337 km / h, they enable aerobatic maneuvers with an overload of + 8G / -6G.
During the Air Show, there were also cruises, water sports and fireworks displays. The Mazury Residence landing field was also at the participants’ disposal. It is a small landing site located on Lake Niegocin in the Mazury Residence estate, south-east of Giżycko.
Show schedule:
3 August 2012
Program BY AIRPLANE TO EŁK
Place – Promenade on Lake Ełckie along ul. On the lakeside.
16.00 – exhibition of flying models, – performance by DJ Hołek – film music.
17.00 – airplanes flights over the lake, hydrofoil landing, water rescue demonstration with the participation of a helicopter.
19.00 – paragliders flights.
20.30 – Open air cinema (square at Nadjeziorna street).
4 August 2012
Place – Amphitheater and city beach on Niegocin Lake.
11.00-11.20 – Solemn opening of Mazury AirShow 2012 near the Amphitheater by the beach.
11.20-12.00 – performance of the Air Force Orchestra.
12.00-14.00 – I blok pokazów lotniczych.
14.00-16.00 – promotional and introductory flights as part of the Mazury Cud Natury campaign (from the Kętrzyn Wilamowo airport).
16.00-18.00 – II block of air shows.
18.00-19.00 – promotional and introductory flights as part of the Mazury Cud Natury campaign (from the Kętrzyn Wilamowo airport).
19.00-22.00 – "Ship-Party" integration meeting of flight crews – only for accredited and invited persons.
22.00-22.10 – fireworks display on the pier of the shipping port.
Place – Wilamowo Airport.
Wilamowo airport open day, static exhibition of airplanes and parachute jumping. DC-3 flights. Demonstration of The Flying Bulls and other planes individually. Mi-24 helicopters. Military vehicles. Information campaign about the National Reserve Forces.
5 August 2012
Venue – Amphitheater and city beach on Lake Niegocin.
11.00-14.00 – the final block of air shows, including Biało-Czerwone Iskry.
14.00-14.30 – performance of the Air Force Orchestra.
14.30-15.00 – ceremonial ending of Mazury AirShow 2012 and MZPLiM Venue – Wilamowo Airport.
Wilamowo airport open day, static exhibition of planes, take-offs and landings of machines.
10.00-12.00 – promotional and introductory flights as part of the Mazury Cud Natury campaign.
15.00-20.00 – promotional and introductory flights as part of the Mazury Cud Natury campaign.
The few photos from the shows.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman