The Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne) has steadily modernised with US equipment, most prominently with the advanced Block 52+ F-16C/D, which is regularly displayed at events by its Tiger Demo team. Krzysztof Kuska talks to the team’s primary pilot.
POLISH F-16 TEAM
POLAND’S TIGER Demo team has become an important element of 31. Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego (31. BLT – 31st Tactical Air Base) at Poznań/Krzesiny, which received its first ‘Vipers’ – as the F-16s are affectionately known – back in November 2006.
The Tiger Demo, which was formed in 2015, is part of the 6. Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego (6. ELT – 6th Tactical Air Squadron), and takes its name from the unit’s membership of the NATO Tiger Association.
The chief display pilot for the 2016 season was Maj Robert ‘Bluto’ Gałązka, who will be handing over the reins to his successor in the near future.
‘Bluto’ is one of Poland’s most experienced F-16 airmen and has participated in an impressive 14 multinational exercises including Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Frisian Flag in the Netherlands, and of course the NATO Tiger Meet. He is also a graduate of the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP), with 1,300 of his 1,800 flying hours being in the F-16.
