płk. pil. Bolesław Orliński Plaque

The inscription on this plaque is a testament to a life filled with adventure and daring. This is the p\u0142k. pil. Boles\u0142aw Orli\u0144ski Plaque, here to honor a man who pushed the boundaries of flight in a time when the sky was still largely unexplored. Boles\u0142aw Orli\u0144ski was a Polish pilot who lived a long and incredible life. He was a pioneer in aviation and a true hero of his time. He flew during World War I, the Polish-Soviet War, and World War II. He was also a gifted test pilot, and he flew over 90 prototypes of aircraft built in Poland. But his most famous flight was a daring expedition in 1926. Boles\u0142aw Orli\u0144ski and his mechanic, Leonard Kubiak, embarked on a journey from Warsaw to Tokyo and back. This was a feat of incredible skill and courage, as they had to navigate challenging weather conditions and rough terrain. They flew for 25 days, covering over 22,600 kilometers. It wasn’t just the distance that made this flight legendary, but the fact that they faced numerous challenges. The plane’s oil tank leaked, and they had to rely on a makeshift propeller! Can you imagine flying for a month in an open-cockpit plane with an oil leak and just one propeller, facing all sorts of dangers? The flight was a testament to their resilience and their unwavering determination. For their incredible journey, Orli\u0144ski received the prestigious Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, a high honor awarded by the Japanese Emperor. He was also awarded the Gold Medal of the Imperial Society of Aviation. It was a trip that forever etched his name in aviation history! And it’s right here, on this plaque, that we remember the incredible feats of Boles\u0142aw Orli\u0144ski and his legacy as a true pioneer of flight.