Right here’s our in depth report about probably the most attention-grabbing occasions in Europe this yr: Leszno Antidotum Air Present.
On the Jun. 16 – 17, 2023 weekend, Leszno Airfield in Poland (EPLS) grew to become a venue for a serious air present that, yr by yr, is proving to change into probably the most vital highlights of the Polish and doubtless the entire European air present calendar. Leszno was the primary air present in Poland that featured the night time part of the shows program that also is the distinctive characteristic of the even. Nonetheless, the organizers maintain on the lookout for methods to broaden and develop the occasion, in order that it stands out amongst different air reveals which will appear much more customary. It is extremely excessive time now for the Leszno present to achieve some traction and change into recognizable not simply in Poland, but additionally overseas.
If one was to make use of a single phrase to clarify the place the magic of Leszno comes from, then selection or ardour can be the primary ones that come to 1’s thoughts. Though, yr by yr, the line-up appears to be the identical, the shows proceed to enhance, making the present much more spectacular.
The Leszno Antidotum Air Present was born amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As mass occasions had been canceled over an extended interval, the organizers of the Leszno present (beforehand referred to as the Leszno Air Picnic and SoundAIR Competition) determined to create an antidote for the shortage of aviation within the avgeeks’ hearts. The primary Antidotum Air Show was organized back in 2020. And the occasion grew since then: this yr the present attracted greater than 40,000 guests on Saturday.
The organizers additionally made positive to ask some aviation celebrities to the present. Lukasz Czepiela, Crimson Bull Air Race pilot, and now, Crimson Bull Show Pilot, well-known for touchdown on a helipad on Burj Al Arab Resort in Dubai carried out two solo shows, one in his Edge 540, and one in his hot-rod Piper Cub (with a Nitrous Oxide energy enhance system fitted onto it). On that event, the present announcer additionally interviewed Mike Patey (engineer behind the well-known Draco Wilga, with a PT-6 engine in it) who helped Czepiela prep his carbon cub for the UAE stunt. That is without doubt one of the elements that gave Leszno Oshkosh vibe this yr. Felix Baumgartner additionally participated within the Leszno occasion this yr, flying the Crimson Bull’s Bolkow Bo-105 in a spectacular show of helicopter aerobatics.
Because the Leszno present transitioned from being a neighborhood, small picnic, to a full present with a diverse program, it must be identified that the occasion could be considered as a global air present. The evolution is seen. For example, again in 2006, the one quick jet act in Leszno was carried out by the Polish Air Pressure’s F-16 Tiger Demo Workforce. This yr, three jets had their shows scheduled – the L-29 Delfin from Slovakia, the F-16 of the Polish Air Pressure, and the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter Storm. Moreover, the Swiss Air Pressure Tremendous Puma Show Workforce was additionally one of many main highlights of the night portion of the present, with its spectacular use of flares. The Swiss additionally despatched their PC-7 workforce to Leszno. The Croatians, in the meantime, carried out with their PC-9M Hudournik. A lot of the navy plane, particularly the fixed-wing ones had been working out of the thirty first Tactical Airbase in Krzesiny.
Talking of flares, what can’t go unnoticed among the many highlights of the occasion is the show of the Polish Air Pressure C-130, coming from the thirty third Airlift Base in Powidz. When 2 years in the past the organizers determined to ask the heaviest plane of the Polish Air Pressure to carry out a spectacular flares drop at Leszno, by no means had they anticipated that the C-130’s routine would evolve and change into a full show program. At the moment, the show routine of the Polish C-130 could be considered as an entire show, worthy of being carried out overseas at occasions similar to RIAT or different worldwide air reveals. The show incorporates a detailed commentary now, and it’s properly structured and divided into parts that actually showcase Hercules’s capabilities (together with excessive and low-speed passes, or a tactical method demonstration, with 10-degree glideslope).
The Polish Air Pressure additionally introduced its W-3 CSAR/ASAR function demo to Leszno.
The worldwide contributors additionally included the Czech AH-1 Cobra, the OV-10 Bronco, and the MD-500, staging a Vietnam Struggle CSAR reenactment, with the involvement of the French Air Pressure parachuters (PHENIX Ambassadeurs Parachutistes), or the Royal Jordanian Falcons. As throughout all years in Leszno, the shows additionally included a broad use of fireworks and pyro, which is yet one more trademark of the air present. The historic plane line-up additionally included the CA-13 Boomerang, Yak-3, and the Crimson Bull F-4U Corsair, and in addition the DFS Habicht sailplane.
One other vital trait of the Leszno present is the truth that it presents the viewers with nearly all aspects of aviation and the human want to fly. As Leszno is without doubt one of the key places on the gliding map of Poland, gliders at all times represent an vital a part of the show catalog – this yr we may see the Crimson Bull’s Blanix Workforce, or Johan Gustafsson’s routines in that division, each performing throughout the sundown hours. Johannes Blacky Schwarz, in the meantime, carried out a show on a hang-glider towed into the air by a trike-glider. The variability and richness of the show acts additionally included paragliders or the Flying Dragons PPG workforce that carried out a spectacular lights and pyro show in sync with pyro at night time. The night time present additionally included the Polish Bo-105 show workforce routine, with spectacular pyro connected to the helicopter pylons.
Considerably within the background, one other vital spotlight of the Leszno Antidotum Air Present this yr got here in a type of a Wilga Fly-In. Michał Wróblewski, proprietor of one of many Leszno-based Wilgas went to nice lengths to collect all airworthy PZL-104 Wilga airframes based mostly in Poland in Leszno throughout the weekend. 12 Wilgas appeared, additionally making a large flypast, giving the native, Polish present environment paying homage to Oshkosh.
Lastly, the night time finale of the present in Leszno is a separate act of its personal. The actors: the Aerosparx Show Workforce, Marek Choim, OV-10 Bronco, and the Polish Air Pressure C-130 Hercules, with its spectacular flares drop coming as a big reprise after the day routine, all make Leszno really feel rather more particular. Leszno, for a very long time, has been the one air present in Poland to characteristic night time shows with pyro. Then, for a few years, Aeropact firm (at the moment dissolved), the organizer of the Aerobaltic sequence of occasions in Gdynia, made just a few fairly profitable makes an attempt to do the night time present over water; sadly, there’s no signal that the night time present would return to the ocean. Notably, the largest airshow in Poland – the Radom Worldwide Air Present, organized biannually, would characteristic a sundown present this yr – we have to wait and see how that can play out.
Total, the Leszno occasion is rising and it’s, yr by yr, turning into a feast for any fan of aviation in any kind. The present is rising, presenting the multi-faceted love of aviation and fervour for flying to a broader viewers – and in addition creating a wholly new format of aviation leisure, each for geeks, and the plenty. Let’s hope the constant efforts made by the workforce at Leszno Airfield is observed broadly, in order that the occasion turns into a trademark of its personal.
Standing contributor for TheAviationist. Aviation photojournalist. Co-Founding father of DefensePhoto.com. Professional in linguistics, Chilly Struggle discourse, Chilly Struggle historical past and coverage and media communications.
