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On 4–5 July 2026, Gryźliny Airfield (EPGR) near Olsztynek became the aviation capital of Warmia and Masuria for the twelfth time. The XII Family Air Picnic drew thousands of spectators to one of Poland's most scenic airshow venues — surrounded by Masurian forests, some 25 kilometres from Olsztyn.

The Flying Museum of the Polish Air Force was represented by two aircraft: Harvard 4M SP-YIX flown by Jacek Mainka, and DHC-1 Chipmunk SP-YAC with Ireneusz Puchała at the controls. The displays of both aircraft told the story of RAF advanced pilot training — from the elegant Chipmunk biplane that taught RAF pilots in the 1950s to the powerful Harvard, the final step before a combat aircraft.

The picnic blended world-class aerobatics with a family atmosphere. Saturday evening brought Jurgis Kairysa in the Su-31 and the ANBO Formation night light show, closing with fireworks. Sunday featured flypasts and a static exhibition of historic aircraft.

Other participants included a formation of three PZL-101 Gawron aircraft, TS-8 Bies (Jacek Sobolewski), EXTRA 300 (Robert Kowalik), EXTRA 300/200 (Norbert Kasperek), Bölkow BO-105 and UH-1D "Huey" helicopters, the Swift glider and Carbon Cub. On the ground: Polish Army equipment displays, the Kortosfera mobile science zone, food trucks, regional craft breweries and artisan stalls.

On 27–28 June 2026, Jacek Mainka flew Harvard 4M SP-YIX to the Odlotowe Suwałki Air Show — one of the largest aviation events in north-eastern Poland. The show combines day and night displays with pyrotechnics, drawing tens of thousands of spectators every year.

The Harvard flew a solo display as one of the programme's historical highlights. Before the crowd assembled at the airport named after General Pilot Witold Urbanowicz, the rumble of the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 was a reminder of the advanced training tradition that formed the last step for Polish pilots before a combat aircraft in the Second World War.

The programme featured two MiG-29 fighters from the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork — in 2026 almost certainly the only opportunity in Poland to see these aircraft perform live. Also on the bill: Marcin Kubrak's P-51D Mustang, TS-11 Iskra, historic Lim-2, SB Lim-2 and Lim-5 jets from Fubar Aviation, plus Baltic Bees Jet Team, BushCat Demo Team and Flying Dragons Team. The Harvard stood in distinguished company — as an ambassador for the history of advanced aircrew training in Great Britain from 1944. Polish pilots trained on the Harvard too.

A special highlight of Suwałki 2026 was the presence of two distinguished guest pilots. John Dodd — British warbird pilot from Goodwood — took the controls of Marcin Kubrak's P-51D Mustang. John began his career as a scientist at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, where his passion for historic aircraft took hold. He has flown turbine Islanders commercially, carried out low-level fishery protection missions over Scotland, and flew the Boeing 737 for BMI and British Airways. Today he instructs and displays the Spitfire at Spitfires Academy in Goodwood, flies Harvards and Chipmunks, and owns a Pitts Special.

Capt. Phil Shaw MVO FRAeS flew to Suwałki alongside Jacek Mainka. Phil is one of the most experienced warbird pilots in Europe: he joined the Fleet Air Arm at 18, flew helicopters for the Royal Navy for 22 years including the 1982 Falklands campaign, commanded 360 Squadron, and served as Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy Historic Flight. He then flew the Airbus A320 for GB Airways and easyJet before retiring from the Fleet Air Arm in 2021 with 10,000 hours on 30 aircraft types. He holds the MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) and FRAeS (Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society), and has shared a Harvard and Tiger Moth at air displays for 30 years.

The Harvard's display at Suwałki was captured by Michał Pożarowszczyk — First Officer at Wizz Air, and an aviation photographer and enthusiast in his own time. His photos capture the character of this aircraft better than words: golden hour light, a trail of smoke, and the silhouette of RAI-X against the sky over Suwałki.

Last weekend, Harvard 4M SP-YIX took part in the V Świdnik Air Festival — the fifth, jubilee edition of one of Poland's most charming airshows. The festival took place on 13 June 2026 on the grass airfield at Sportowa Street in Świdnik, drawing crowds of aviation enthusiasts from across the region.

The Harvard arrived in Świdnik on Friday evening, just before a beautiful sunset. The golden and pink light of the day's final moments swept across the aircraft's yellow fuselage — one of those airfield moments you can't plan for, and never quite forget.

For the night, the Harvard was sheltered in a hangar — in distinguished company: TS-11 Iskra jets of the Polish Air Force and other aircraft that had arrived for the festival. The sight of the yellow Harvard among the grey jet trainers was a reminder of the unbroken line of Polish aviation training — from the Harvard to the Iskra.

Saturday's festival programme was outstanding — hours of aerobatic displays, a night show with pyrotechnics, a static exhibition and a zone dedicated to Polish aviation history. The Harvard flew its solo display, as always drawing attention with the unmistakable rumble of its Pratt & Whitney R-1340 and a silhouette straight out of wartime newsreel footage.

On Sunday morning, SP-YIX returned to its home base at Wola Brzeska (EPBI). A beautiful airshow and a beautiful weekend.

On 24 May 2026, two days after the 80th anniversary of the DHC-1 Chipmunk's first flight, friends of the Foundation gathered at Wola Brzeska to mark this special jubilee together. On the airfield grass stood Chipmunk SP-YAC/WD322 — the only flying example of the type in Poland. Guests had the chance to look closely at the aircraft, talk about its history and soak up the atmosphere that surrounds machines from another era. The gathering was crowned with a commemorative flight — a fitting tribute to 80 years of one of the most elegant training aircraft in post-war aviation.

On 22 May 1946, test pilot Pat Fillingham lifted the prototype DHC-1 Chipmunk from the de Havilland Canada factory at Downsview, near Toronto. The aircraft was designed by Polish-born engineer Wsiewołod Jakimiuk — a designer whose origins connect him to the home country of the Chipmunk that stands at Wola Brzeska. Eighty years on, the world marked the occasion.

At IWM Duxford on 9 May 2026, 42 Chipmunks gathered from across Europe, including three aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force. Twenty-one machines started simultaneously on the flight line; eighteen formed up for a mass flypast, while the Portuguese crews entertained the crowd with a precise three-ship display. In New Zealand, six Chipmunks met at Te Kowhai Airfield on 23 May under the banner of the Tiger Moth Club NZ. In South Africa, celebrations took place at Jack Taylor Airfield. In Canada, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton has announced a Warbird Fly-In for 29 August 2026, with the Chipmunk as the star of the year.

On 9 August 2025 Harvard 4M SP-YIX, flown by Jacek Mainka, took part in the Płock Air Picnic organised by Aeroklub Ziemi Mazowieckiej. Harvard performed a solo display in front of the crowd gathered at the airfield.

The Flying Museum took part in the event again, continuing its regular presence in Poland's airshow calendar.

On 2 August 2025 at Rudniki Airport near Częstochowa (EPRU), the Aeroclub of Częstochowa staged another AirShow. Harvard 4M SP-YIX, flown by Jacek Mainka, performed a solo display. Rudniki is one of Poland's more intimate and atmospheric aviation events — up close, without grandstands, face to face with the aircraft.

The display was documented on video published on YouTube, clearly showing the SP-YIX registration and the pilot's name.

On 28 June 2025 Jacek Mainka flew Harvard 4M SP-YIX to the Odlotowe Suwałki Air Show. Suwałki Airport is a relatively recent addition to Poland's airshow calendar — SP-YIX performed a solo display in front of the crowd gathered at the airfield.

On 14 June 2025 the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Eagle School — Poland's foremost aviation academy, which has trained thousands of pilots over a century. As part of the Science and Aviation Picnic, Harvard 4M SP-YIX took part in the historical display block, flying alongside other vintage aircraft.

Dęblin carries a special symbolism — successive generations of Polish pilots have gone forth from here. The men who trained on this airfield flew Tiger Moths and Harvards during the Second World War. A display by SP-YIX at this location has a meaning that goes well beyond aviation.

In August 2024 Harvard 4M SP-YIX, flown by Jacek Mainka, took part in Mazury AirShow at Kętrzyn-Wilamowo airfield. Harvard performed a solo display. Video footage from the event was published on YouTube.

On 15–16 June 2024 Tiger Moth SP-YAA and Harvard SP-YIX took part in the fourth edition of Świdnik Air Festival. Both aircraft flew in individual displays, presenting the full spectrum of Polish pilot training during the Second World War — from the biplane primer that every pilot candidate passed through, to the advanced monoplane that was the final step before a combat aircraft.

Świdnik Air Festival is one of Poland's smaller-scale airshows, held on a biennial basis.

On 26–27 August 2023 all three Flying Museum aircraft appeared at Air Show Radom — one of the largest airshows in Poland and Central Europe. Tiger Moth SP-YAA, Chipmunk SP-YAC and Harvard SP-YIX flew individually and in combination, presenting over eighty years of aviation training history.

The culmination was the "Harvard & Orlik Memorial Flight" — a formation display by the Harvard in company with TS-11 Iskra jet trainers: a tribute to the generation of pilots who travelled the whole wartime training road from Tiger Moth to Spitfire. The display was covered by Defence24 and The Aviationist, among others.

On 24 June 2023 the Flying Museum's collection visited Mielec for the VI Podkarpackie Air Show. Chipmunk SP-YAC and Harvard SP-YIX flew over an airfield that for decades was the centre of Poland's aviation industry. The sight of a Chipmunk and Harvard above Mielec — where PZL Mielec aircraft were manufactured for years — is a historical juxtaposition in the fullest sense of the phrase.

On 31 August 2019 the National Air Show was held at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport to mark the centenary of the Polish Aero Club. Tiger Moth SP-YAA and Chipmunk SP-YAC/WD322 were among the most prominent participants. Both aircraft have a direct connection to the history being celebrated — they flew and trained pilots during the years when Polish aviation was writing its most important chapters.

The Chipmunk's landing after its display was captured by the photography team at afterburner.com.pl.

On 16–18 August 2019 Gdynia once again hosted Aerobaltic — one of the largest airshows on the Baltic. Harvard 4M SP-YIX joined the "Orły" (Eagles) formation — four TS-11 Iskra jet trainers of the Polish Armed Forces and two Harvards flying together in homage to the tradition of Polish aviation training.

The formation display was a continuation of the successful debut from the previous year — two Harvards and four Orliks: an image that speaks more plainly than many a ceremony, drawing a straight line from wartime training to Poland's present-day military pilots.

On 8–9 June 2019 Tiger Moth SP-YAA took part in the third edition of Świdnik Air Festival. A display by the oldest aircraft on the Polish civil register, set against modern helicopters and combat aircraft, is one of the more eloquent images Polish aviation has to offer — from Tiger Moth to Black Hawk, from 1939 to today.

On 25–26 August 2018 Air Show Radom hosted the "Harvard Orlik Memorial Flight" — two Harvards and three Orliks in a single formation, in tribute to a century of Polish military aviation. Harvard 4M SP-YIX, flown by Jacek Mainka, was one of the aircraft in this historic display.

The same programme presented two weeks earlier in Gdynia was brought to Air Show Radom — Poland's largest airshow. A formation combining a vintage training aircraft with a modern jet trainer was without precedent at the event.

On 17–19 August 2018 in Gdynia, the "Harvard Orlik Memorial Flight" made its debut — a historic formation display organised to mark the centenary of Polish military aviation. Two Harvards and three Orliks — training aircraft from two different eras — flew together in tribute to Polish pilots.

Jacek Mainka flew Harvard 4M SP-YIX. The display was described by the English-language site The Aviationist as one of the most important events of the entire Aerobaltic 2018. The combination of a historic Harvard with a modern jet trainer — of the same generation as their prototypes — was an idea as simple as it was eloquent.

On 13–14 August 2018 Tiger Moth SP-YAA and Chipmunk SP-YAC took part in the VIII Nowy Targ Air Picnic. Robert Pietracha flew the Tiger Moth, Jacek Mainka the Chipmunk. Nowy Targ Airport (EPNT) is situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains — both aircraft performed individual displays.

A report from the event featuring the Flying Museum's collection was published by pikniknowotarski.pl.

At 14:00 on Sunday, 10 September, Krzysztof and I flew in to Konstancin. The North American T-6 Harvard 4M SP-YIX has joined the rest of my aircraft — in other words, it's mine and it's in Konstancin. It stands next to the March-delivery Harvard IIB G-BBHK, on which I also logged 10 hours this year.

An advanced trainer used in the PAF (in earlier versions, differences minimal) — now within reach. I am somewhat terrified — this is a different scale, a different league. It is also the first time on "American territory". In Europe we have something like the 2nd division of warbids, in Poland currently the 3rd — but there is "significant progress".

Tiger Moth or Chipmunk — they're little-known there. The T-6 is a foundation and a holy relic, the history of the USAF, US Navy, Marines, Reno air races — it's the start of a more serious conversation in that country!

I managed to fly in the front cockpit of a DH60 Moth from 1929. The aircraft belongs to Malcolm Paul and was rebuilt from available old parts — but mainly fabricated new from drawings. The structure is mainly wood — no surprise there. The whole fuselage, unlike the Tiger Moth, is wooden.

The engine has a 1920s crankcase (yes!), although some elements had to be adapted from a Gipsy Major. Upright cylinders, no valve covers, manual valve gear lubrication before flight. Opening the wings — a beautiful thing!

In the cockpit: a large clock, an airspeed indicator inscribed "Imperial Airways", a completely rotating altimeter, a large mechanical engine RPM counter, a compass. Oil pressure — the only modern instrument. In the front cockpit there are no instruments, I beg your pardon — there is an airspeed indicator on the wing. Beautiful, large, mostly ceramic.

Malcolm in the rear cockpit, Krzysztof in the front, I swung the propeller — learning a different procedure along the way. First Krzysztof flew with Malcolm, then they swapped and I had about 20 minutes in the air.

It doesn't often happen that I go to the cinema. In the middle of the flying season, in nice weather — that doesn't happen! But there are exceptions. The film Dunkirk. Recommended, though the senselessness and cruelty of war is not a pleasant subject. It lets those of us living in relatively peaceful times experience catharsis in reflection on the fate of the individual during war.

Except that I can't watch a film like this just as a film. The flying scenes: I unfortunately see how, who, in what way. And so a screening becomes more of a "making of..." than experiencing the original film. And then in breaks I think — why can't we have a "Spitfire" here — meaning a Yak-52 — and do real AERIAL SHOTS?

A certain Polish film producer insists that today air battles are made exclusively "in the computer". As you can see — they are not. You can do something properly. The aircraft playing quite major roles — worth seeing. Magnificent Spitfire Mk Is — restored in the UK by ARCo — and John Romain's "Buchon." The location also familiar — Royal Navy base Lee on Solent, known as "HMS Daedalus".

A busy period at work, difficult weather, holidays — the usual challenges. Things worked out on Saturday, but Sunday ended up as a more limited show. The crosswind was too strong for the Tiger Moth.

It's a fine thing that for some time now I simply take great pleasure from watching others fly. The satisfaction of seeing others enjoy it, seeing them get it right, knowing that things will only get more interesting.

More interesting, perhaps harder and more tiring too. Trips to the UK lie ahead — two have already happened, perhaps four more must follow. The Czech Republic as well. In July and August there will be less time for events in Poland, but investment in the future is necessary.

Interesting airshow, naturally symbolising our cavalier spirit. 250 km/h in a 2.5-tonne Harvard at rooftop height. The Harvard is a magnificent device — and well suited to Polish airshow conditions.

The historic formation looked quite good too. Ten years of work, many sleepless nights, practically everything I have — but there is satisfaction!

On 10 April 2015 Tiger Moth T-7230 officially received the Polish registration SP-YAA, becoming the oldest aircraft on the Polish civil register. Built in 1939 and used to train RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain, the aircraft has been based in Poland since 2007. For its first years there it still flew under the British mark G-AFVE — the Polish registration completed its new chapter as a living historical exhibit.

SP-YAA is the only flying example of its type in Poland. Registration in Polish civil aviation is the symbolic completion of its return — the aircraft that trained pilots of the Polish RAF squadrons has officially come back to Polish skies.

On 22 August 2013 Tiger Moth T-7230 took part in Air Show Radom — one of the largest airshows in Central Europe. The aircraft was then still flying under the British registration G-AFVE. A display by the 1939 biplane set against modern jets and aerobatic aircraft caught the eye of the public — the contrast of eras was one of the most eloquent images of the whole event.

Air Show Radom served as yet another confirmation of the decision to bring T-7230 to Poland: historic aircraft in flight, rather than behind glass in a museum, have a unique power to capture the imagination and emotions of an audience.