Classic SZD gliders at the anniversary weekenend

We’d like to introduce our first participant: a truly unique glider—the IS-A “Salamandra.” 🦎 It’s unique not only because of its history, but also because it marked the beginning of a family of gliders from Bielsko.

After the war, Polish gliding practically ceased to exist—there was a lack of equipment and documentation, and the infrastructure had been destroyed. And yet… the “Salamandra” returned.

Thanks to a single surviving example, found in a barn near Bielsko. At the Institute of Gliding (later SZD), they managed to reconstruct all the documentation. As early as 1946, the glider took to the skies again, becoming the foundation for training an entire generation of pilots.

Today, history comes full circle 💫
During the anniversary celebration, you’ll see a faithfully restored replica in flight—one that flies regularly at the Gliwice Aeroclub—including during the ceremonial air parade!

Among the participants of the airshow, a true legend of aerobatics could not be missing—the SZD-21-2 “Kobuz 3” glider. This is the aircraft that propelled Polish pilots to the world stage in aerobatics.

“Kobuz 3” was developed as the successor to the IS-4 “Jastrząb,” which we will discuss later. At the SZD in Bielsko-Biała, it was refined to meet the growing demands of glider aerobatics. This glider allowed the pilot to perform even the most complex maneuvers with precision and dynamism.

It was on the Kobuz that Polish pilots secured top spots in international glider aerobatics competitions, and Poland has firmly established itself among the world’s leaders in this discipline to this day.

Today, the futuristic-looking “Kobuz 3” is not only a piece of engineering history but also a symbol of an era in which the pilots’ precision, courage, and skill went hand in hand with outstanding Polish design.

The SZD-24 “Foka” is one of the icons of Polish competitive gliding that you’ll see at the airshow.

It was developed at the SZD Allstar PZL Glider Experimental Glider Plant in Bielsko-Biała as a modern, single-seat competition glider that quickly attracted attention with its performance and elegant silhouette. The “Foka” was the first in a whole family of gliders that set a new direction for the development of Polish designs.

Polish pilots achieved success in international competitions flying the “Foka,” and the design itself became a symbol of the ambition and potential of Polish gliding in the 1960s.

The Foka’s successor was its extensively modernized version, the SZD-32 “Foka 5,” and the culmination of this line was the SZD-36 “Cobra,” which continued the ideas pioneered by the “Foka.”

All three of these designs will be on display and available for comparison during the airshow.

Among the participants in the airshow will also be a lesser-known but very interesting aircraft — the SZD-15 “Sroka”.

It was built in the early 1950s in Bielsko-Biała as a single-seat training glider. Although the “Sroka” never entered mass production—it was built in only a short series, making it one of the rarer Polish gliders from that period — it represents an interesting stage in the development of post-war gliding in Poland.

During the airshow, you will have the opportunity to see a unique example of this glider—fully operational and airworthy. This is a rare chance to see the “Sroka” not only up close but also in its natural habitat: the air.

The “Sroka” will be on display courtesy of Bartek Kot and the Polish Gliding Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and restoring such unique aircraft.

As part of the anniversary SZD glider rally, the legendary SZD-12 "Mucha" 100 holds a special place – one of the most recognizable Polish training and performance gliders of the 1950s.

The design, developed in 1953, was an evolution of the earlier IS-2 Mucha-ter, combining proven aerodynamics with a more modern fuselage and improved cockpit equipment. The prototype made its first flight on November 14, 1953, and the glider quickly entered serial production, becoming the primary aircraft used by Polish aeroclubs.

The “Mucha 100” stood out for its excellent performance for its time, on which many records were set. It was valued by pilots for its pleasant handling characteristics and precise control response.

At the anniversary rally of SZD gliders, a true rarity made an appearance – the SZD-40X “Halny.” This is the only example of this glider ever built, making it unique on a global scale.

The “Halny” was designed in the early 1970s as an experimental, high-performance two-seat sailplane. Its primary purpose was to test new structural and aerodynamic solutions and to gather experience for the future development of a modern high-performance glider. Notably, the front cockpit is not equipped with flight instruments or flight controls—the aircraft can be flown exclusively from the rear seat.

Today, the “Halny” is not only a rare sight but also an important symbol of the development of Polish glider engineering.

Photo: Marcin Sigmund