RIAT at RAF Fairford draws 150,000–200,000 spectators each July. Holders of the show's special "friends" pass choose the trophy, awarded this year to Krakowian of the 6th Air Squadron based at the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań.
Flying an F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 52+, Krakowian flew four sorties at RIAT 2025—three displays and one training—adapting to low clouds and rain. He said “low” shows run at about 3,500–4,000 feet and “flat” shows around 1,000 feet, with humidity producing striking condensation.
“The audience awarded the prize for my solo display, but it’s the result of the whole team’s work,” said Krakowian, who has over 1,400 flight hours, including about 1,200 on the F-16. He called the award a “huge distinction” because it comes from spectators.
He said the team shifted from a U.S.-style “left-to-right” pattern to a more European “3D” concept with tighter, sometimes more aggressive maneuvers, keeping the jet closer to spectators and reducing the display radius to roughly 1.5 miles.
With RIAT complete, the team is midway through its season, next appearing at France’s Meeting Aérien International de la Somme, Poland’s Radom Air Show, and events in Greece, Belgium and Portugal.
(jh)
Source: Polska Zbrojna