T e a m   h i s t o r y

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The aerobatic team "Iskry" was formed on 16 February 1969. Following the formation presented by the aircrafts (it is called diamond in English) it was called "Rombik". The TS-11 Iskra trainer has been used by the pilots since the team was formed. Moreover the team name comes from the name of the aircraft.


The pilots of the `69 team were:

Leader	Capt. Janusz Lodzinski
Right wing	Capt. Edmund Wujec
Left wing	Capt. Kazimierz Kuzniar
Slot	Capt. Jan Karpinski
Solo display	Maj. Albin Kossek
Solo display	Lt. Kazimierz Dygant
Solo display	Capt. Tadeusz Sokol
Reserve pilot	Capt. Teofil Mielnik

The "Rombik" team (or solo only) many times performed at air shows, parades etc. During one of the display, on 5-th of October 1969, the solo pilot Maj Albin Kossek was in dangerous situation. The engine stopped suddenly forcing pilot to make a decision for ejecting or landing. Maj Kossek decided to land without extending the landing-gear at the beginning of the runway. Pilot landed successfully and sustained no injuries.


The first important group performance was appearance at Aviation Day at Deblin on 17-th of August 1971.
In 1975 Maj. Albin Kossek was chosen the new team leader and 5 years later he was replaced by Capt. Tadeusz Sokol.
In 1981, because of war estabilishment, team interrupted activity. Pilots returned to trainings in spring 1984 and the debutante's performance took place at Poznan on 15-th of July 1984. In that year Capt. Krzysztof Jurek became the new team leader.
In 1984 "Rombik" team members were:

Leader	Capt. Krzysztof Jurek
Right wing	Capt. Roman Tchorzewski
Left wing	Capt. Tadeusz Malec
Slot	Capt. Ryszard Nowak
Solo display	Capt. Zbigniew Blechacz
Solo display	Capt. Jerzy Przybylik

The following years brought again some changes in both flying programme and the team but the real change happened 5 years later. In 1989 the team was enlarged to 6 aircrafts and the name was changed to "Iskry". During the Air Show `91 in Poznan "Iskry" presented its 6 aircraft formation flying for the first time. The attraction was increased by the white and red painting, which was designed by lt.-col. Ireneusz Fibinger.

During the Air Show `91 the team members were:

Leader	Maj. Tomasz Radolinski
Right wing	Lt.Col. Ryszard Nowak
Left wing	Lt. Dariusz Kleczaj
Slot	Lt. Grzegorz Leleniewski
Right wing	Capt. Arkadiusz Lesniewski
Left wing	Lt.Col. Zbigniew Blechacz (team commander)
Solo display	Lt. Stefan Rutkowski

From 3-rd May 1993 to the end of 1995 the team has been presenting 9 aircraft formation. A very impressive part of the performance was the solo display performed by Capt. Stefan Rutkowski and Lt.Col. Zbigniew Blechacz. They performed full inverted loop and turn which are very seldom seen at airshows.The performance was presented by:

Leader	Maj. Tomasz Radolinski
Right wing	Lt.Col. Ryszard Nowak
Left wing	Capt. Dariusz Kleczaj
Slot	Capt. Grzegorz Leleniewski
Right wing	Capt. Arkadiusz Lesniewski
Left wing	Lt.Col. Zbigniew Blechacz (team commander)
Right wing	Lt.Col. Zenon Winnicki
Left wing	Lt. Tomasz Lukaszczuk
Slot	Maj. Andrzej Sowa

In following years new team members were introduced to the team because of few pilots` retirement. The performance was presented to the end of the year 1998.

The team members from 1996 to 1997 were:

Leader	Maj. Tomasz Radolinski
Right wing	Lt.Col. Ryszard Nowak
Left wing	Capt. Tomasz Lukaszczuk
Slot	Capt. Grzegorz Leleniewski
Right wing	Capt. Arkadiusz Lesniewski
Left wing	Lt.Col. Zbigniew Blechacz (team commander)
Right wing	Maj. Mariusz Sikora
Left wing	Lt.Col. Zenon Winnicki
Slot	Maj. Andrzej Sowa
Solo display	Capt. Stefan Rutkowski
Solo display	Capt. Mariusz Oliwa

The team members in 1998:

Leader	Capt. Arkadiusz Lesniewski
Right wing	Capt. Mariusz Sikora
Left wing	Capt. Tomasz Lukaszczuk
Slot	Lt.Col. Zenon Winnicki
Right wing	Capt. Dariusz Kleczaj
Left wing	Lt.Col. Zbigniew Blechacz (team commander)
Right wing	Capt. Mariusz Oliwa
Left wing	Maj. Adam Ziolkowski
Slot	Maj. Adam Pyrzak

Last "Iskry" team members while based at Radom in 1999:

Leader	Maj. Arkadiusz Lesniewski
Right wing	Maj. Adam Ziolkowski
Left wing	Capt. Tomasz Lukaszczuk
Slot	Maj. Grzegorz Leleniewski
Right wing	Maj. Adam Pyrzak
Left wing	Capt. Piotr Jablonski

The team has participated in many air shows in Poland as well as abroad. During Air Show `96 in Czech Republic "Iskry" has been recognized as the best aerobatic team.
The black day came on 11-th of November 1998. Just before the Independence Day air parade over Warsaw white-and-red Iskra no. 5 had took off for weather reconnaissance. It was the last take off for this aircraft and the crew. After few minutes of flight (in very bad weather conditions) the aircraft crashed near Otwock killing both crewmembers: Capt. Mariusz Oliwa ("Iskry" team member) and Capt. Tomasz Pajorek (pilot from 1-st Fighter Regiment). After that fatal accident team interrupted activity.


Because of the Air Force structure transformation the "Iskry" team was moved (in the year 2000) from Radom to Deblin. The team's aircrafts were symbolically delivered to new pilots. This happened on 17-th of June 2000. On that day both current and new team members took off together to the farewell flypast over Radom. Few minutes later the new pilots took over the control and flew to Deblin.
Afetr 31 years of activity the "Iskry" team finally left Radom.
In its new home base new team members were introduced and the team image was also changed. Now the team is called WHITE & RED ISKRY and it has the new logo as well. There are 8 pilots within the team but only 7 of them are performing during the display.

The team members are:

Leader	Maj. Jerzy Len
Right wing	Lt.Col. Boguslaw Rak (team commander)
Left wing	Capt. Mariusz Pozniak
Slot	Capt. Dariusz Karwowski
Right wing	Capt. Mariusz Szymla
Left wing	Capt. Andrzej Baryla
Solo display	Capt. Maciej Kopiel
Reserve pilot	Capt. Jacek Jaworek

All pilots are volunteers and they represent 1-st Flying Training Center from Deblin.
In 2001 the team participated in Meeting de l`Air in Istres, France and in Royal International Air Tattoo in Cottesmore.