Sebastian Kawa, an outstanding Polish pilot and one of the best glider pilots in the world, has become the first Pole to be awarded the FAI Gold Medal – the highest honour awarded for achievements in aviation and aerospace. The ceremony took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

The International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) was founded in 1905 to advance aviation and aerospace worldwide. 

“It has happened. I am the first Pole to receive the FAI Gold Medal. I sincerely thank everyone who supported me. Gliding has been overshadowed by the great milestones of aviation since the beginning of our flying adventure, and although almost every pilot started with non-motor flying they were rarely awarded for this sport. The medal has historically been awarded for achievements such as flying the ocean, structures, breaking the sound barrier or flying into space. Those that I could already remember were also awarded to icons of the gliding sport and I guess this reflects another era in the story,” said Sebastian Kawa. 

The FAI Gold Medal is a prestigious award only given to those who have made a lasting contribution to the field. In the organisation’s history, the medal has been awarded for groundbreaking achievements such as flying across the Atlantic Ocean or flying into space, among others – and now it has gone to Sebastian Kawa. 

By receiving the Gold medal Sebastian Kawa joined a prestigious group of pilots and scholars such as the performer of the first flight across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh, and sound barrier breaker Chuck Yeager. The medal was also given to Yuri Gagarin and famous aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky.

Sebastian Kawa, a 51-year-old was twice a winner of the World Air Games and also has 18 world championship titles and 16 European championship medals to his credit.

Tomasz Modrzejewski

Photo: X @airsports_fai