- Polish Aero Club
Aeroklub Polski (AP; "Polish Aero Club") is the Polish central association of persons practising
air sport s or recreational flying. It was founded in 1921 and is a member of theFédération Aéronautique Internationale . It has a headquarters inWarsaw .History
Aviation organizations could be founded in Poland only after regaining independence in 1918. The first such organization was Aeroklub Polski w Poznaniu ("PAC in
Poznań "), founded on 30 October 1919 and admitted to the FAI in 1920. In June 1920 there was founded Aeroklub Polski w Warszawie ("PAC inWarsaw "). On 18 January 1921 both Aero Clubs formed a central federation Aeroklub Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (ARP; "Aero Club of thePolish Republic "). By 1939, there were created several other regional aero clubs, including some university aero clubs.Before the World War II, members of the ARP took active part in world's aviation sports. The first major international event was the
Challenge 1930 touring planes contest. The Poles enjoyed success in theChallenge 1932 and severalGordon Bennett Cup in ballooning contests. The ARP organized theChallenge 1934 international contest and the Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning in 1934-1936, also successful for the Polish pilots.Just after the World War II, in 1945 the association was renewed and more regional aero clubs were created. In 1957-1990 it was named Aeroklub Polskiej Rzeczpospolitej Ludowej (APRL; "Aero Club of the
Polish People's Republic "). At the time of communist Poland, the membership in aero club was practically the only chance for private persons to fly. The ARP/APRL was supported by the government and supplied with trainer and auxiliary aircraft withdrawn from thePolish Air Force , distributed to regional aero clubs.Present
In 1990, after a fall of communism, the organization was renamed to its current name Aeroklub Polski, referring to the first historical organization of that type.
Aeroklub Polski is the national governing and coordinating body of air sport and recreational flying. Organizational units of the Aeroklub Polski are regional aero clubs; members of regional aero clubs are also members of AP. Currently there are 58 regional aero clubs in Poland (as of 2007).
Goals of AP are, among others: a propagation and development of the aviation in Poland, an organization of air sports and air recreation, a representation of Polish air sports abroad, a training of aviators. It is also a sports association.
External links
* [http://www.aeroklubpolski.pl/ Official site] pl icon
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