Air Show in Kraków
The VIII Małopolski Piknik Lotniczy took place on 1-2 September 2012. Until the last moment, it was not certain whether the 8th Picnic would take place. The last weekend of June (traditional Picnic time) has passed. Fortunately, at the end of the summer holidays, the party took place.
Fortunately, the 8th Picnic was held, although in a more modest form than two years earlier. Within two days the weather was good and all the program’s points were completed.
As every year, there were also ultra-light aircraft: GP-5 registration OK-KUR03. Aeropract A22 Foxbat L2, registration SP-SKRB. 3Xtrim 550 Trainer registration SP-YWS. Evektor EV-97 Eurostar SL, registration OK-JUR03. There was the EM-11 Orka plane.
The star of the show was the Romanian Aerobatic Yakers (Iacarii Acrobati), which performed in Krakow for the first time. The team presented itself on two Yak-52 TW aircraft. The Aerobatic Yakers is a private team of aviation fanatics that has three Yak-52 TW planes. The Yak-52 TW planes are machines with a landing gear with a tail wheel, reinforced wings and more powerful engines. The planes are beautifully painted in a brown and sand camouflage pattern, similar to the 40’s of the 20th century.
The Romanian Aerobatic Yakers team appeared in the air and temporarily together with Mr. Jurgis Kairys, who was flying the Sukhoi Su-26 plane. There was a group called "Żelazny" with three planes and a glider. There was an Extra 200 aerobatic plane and Mr. Uwe Zimmermann.
At the picnic was the historic Taylorcraft Auster AOP.III, registration NJ913. In the air there was an exhibit of the museum plane Yakovlev Yak-18 registration SP-YYY. The Piper Cub registration SP-AWP was in the air. There was the RWD-5 R aircraft. There was the De Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth aircraft, registration SP-YAA.
Three 3AT3 ultralight planes also participated in the picnic, as it was in 2010. The Morane-Saulnier 880 B Rallye 100ST aircraft, registration SP-FRC, was at the show. There was the Antonov An-2 plane. There were small helicopters and a police helicopter PZL Kania registration SN-51XP. There were gyroplanes, moto-hang gliders and para-hang gliders.
A large model of the RWD-6 aircraft was demonstrated in the air, registration SP-AHN, start number 06. On this aircraft, Franciszek Żwirko (pilot) and Stanisław Wigura (mechanic) won the Challenge competition, which was held from 11 to 28 August 1932. Therefore, August 28 was recognized as the Polish Aviation Day.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman