Aeroklub Polski (AP; ''Polish Aero Club'') is the Polish central

association Association may refer to: *Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal *Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry *Voluntary associatio ...

of persons practising

air sport The term "air sports" covers a range of aerial activities, including air racing, aerobatics, aeromodelling, hang gliding, human-powered aircraft, parachuting, paragliding and skydiving. Recognized and regulated air sports Many air sports ...

s or recreational flying. It was founded in 1921 and is a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. It has a headquarters in

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

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 Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...

''), founded on 30 October 1919 and admitted to the FAI in 1920. In June 1920 there was founded Aeroklub Polski w Warszawie (''PAC in

''). On 18 January 1921 both Aero Clubs formed a central federation Aeroklub Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (ARP; ''Aero Club of the Polish 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 The International Touring Competition in 1930 (french: Challenge International de Tourisme) was the second Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI international touring aircraft contest, that took place between July 18 and August 8, 1930 in B ...

touring planes contest. The Poles enjoyed success in the

Challenge 1932 The Challenge 1932 was the third FAI International Tourist Plane Competition (french: Challenge International de Tourisme), that took place between 12 and August 28, 1932 in Berlin, Germany. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviat ...

and several

Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning The Gordon Bennett Cup (or ) is the world's oldest gas balloon race, and is "regarded as the premier event of world balloon racing" according to the ''Los Angeles Times''. Referred to as the "Blue Ribbon" of aeronautics, the first race started fro ...

contests. The ARP organized the Challenge 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 The Polish People's Republic ( pl, Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1947 to 1989 as the predecessor of the modern Republic of Poland. With a population of approximately 37.9 million ne ...

''). 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 the Polish 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.

References

''Historia AP''
o
Aeroklub Polski official site
(in Polish) etrieved 2-3-2015

External links

Official site
{{Authority control Flying clubs Sports clubs in Poland Aviation in Poland

History

Present

See also

References

External links