After 300 kilometres and six hours plus of flight across the Polish flatlands Lukasz Prokop knows that he will reach his goal. He has been working towards this for five years, trying every season and failing many times. On July 18, 2023, he gets to fly his first 400 in Poland. At 438 kilometers, Lukasz not only surpasses his personal best, but reclaims the Polish record and achieves the longest flight for an EN C glider in Europe.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
On the record day Lukasz does not fancy flying at first. Cirrus clouds are reported to be moving from Germany over the planned route. Not ideal. And his two sons are not happy when their father is away chasing kilometres again for two whole days. "In the end, my wife Aneta tipped the balance," he says. "Go flying, Lukasz!" she had said. Aneta seems to have a feeling for record days.
Flying is a family affair
Despite his passion for flying Lukasz also wants to spend as much time as possible with his family, so he keeps one weather eye open during the season. This way, he can distinguish the very good days from potential hammer days and only goes flying when it's really worth it. On July 18, he senses a hammer day; perhaps. There is supposed to be a relatively high base, and a fresh but not too strong wind that will make for fast flatland flying. And, as a bonus, most of Poland’s notoriously narrow airspace will be open. Only the forecast cirrus cloud leaves an element of doubt in Lukasz’s mind. Aneta's optimism is contagious. He travels to Pila, arriving at 2 am. After a few hours of sleep with his winch driver and friend Bogdan, he spots the first cumulus at 8 am. With record hunters Mateusz Siatka and Robert Niziolek he goes to the airfield nearby. Shortly after 9 a.m. Lukasz releases from the towline and sets off on his quest for kilometers.
Miraculous help
He travels swiftly with the west wind. For the first 130 kilometers climbing is almost too good, Lukasz recalls: "At first, I wasn't allowed to climb higher than 5500 feet, or about 1670 meters, because of the controlled airspace around Bydgoszcz Airport." Things don't get any easier when the predicted stratus clouds slide over near the Vistula. Lukasz sinks lower and lower, searching, then finds a thermal 200 meters above ground. Conditions improve again. Lukasz can now fly fully accelerated along the cloud base with minimal sink, and 30 km/h tailwind. This is a fast day. After 170 kilometers the clouds thicken again and lifty places become increasingly scarce. Lukasz already has one virtual foot on the ground. Only 90 meters separate him from landing, and he tries one last forest edge thermal release point. It works: he climbs again. "I think Aneta was praying very hard for me at that moment," Lukasz explains his wonderful low save.
Mission Impossible
Nine hours and 20 minutes after taking off from Pila, Lukasz is back on the ground. The airspace before the Belarus border compels him to land. 438 kilometers of free distance lie behind him. When Aneta arrives half an hour later with their two sons, he is overjoyed. Everything comes together for him: European record for a C glider, Polish national record, the first 400, his whole family coming to pick him up for the first time. "Actually, the record flight belongs to them," Lukasz thinks, "I couldn't fly records without their support." As he celebrates his latest achievement with family and friends - there's even a cake decorated with 438 - Lukasz also thinks about his next goal. Only yesterday a 400 felt like a dream, an impossible challenge. Today, Lukasz is convinced: "500 kilometers in Poland? It can be done!"
Lukasz's equipment
The Pilot
Lukasz Prokop
Lukasz has consistently set spectacular cross-country records flying across the Polish plains in recent years. He reached his biggest goal by breaking the 400 kilometer mark in Poland in summer 2023.
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