Sebastian Kawa

Sebastian Kawa (born 15 November 1972, Zabrze) is a Polish glider pilot, eighteen-time World Champion, FAI world leading glider competition pilot, the World Champion in 15m Class and European gliding champion in 18m Class. In 2024, together with Sebastian Lampart, he became the first pilot in aviation history to fly over K2 in a glider. He is the recipient of the FAI Gold Air Medal, the highest distinction conferred by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Kawa is a second-generation glider pilot, together with his father Tomasz Kawa (an accomplished competition pilot as well) associated with the Mountain Gliding School "Żar" in southern Poland. In his youth, before becoming a pilot, Sebastian Kawa was a competitive sailor in Cadet, Optimist and 420 class, with multiple titles in national championships and participation in top level European and world events. He is also (like his parents) a qualified physician, working at the General Hospital in Bielsko-Biała.

He is also known in the Polish gliding community for numerous Web writings and films popularizing the sport.

His autobiography and advanced gliding tutorial Sky Full of Heat (English and Polish language editions) was published in December 2012.

Sport biography Tug plane and gliders in front of the hangar of the Mountain Gliding School "Żar"

Cadet - competition class, usual step in training of young sailors in sailing of a two-person boat with full complement of sails - mainsail, jib, spinnaker. This class has World Championships organized (junior level only)

Family tradition Sebastian Kawa's parents, both physicians, settled in Międzybrodzie Żywieckie so his father Tomasz could practice gliding (as a competitor and instructor) at the nearby Mountain Gliding School "Żar". The Mountain Gliding School "Żar" is one of the birth places of the sport in Poland. Tomasz Kawa is a longtime top level glider pilot, among other accomplishments representing Poland in World Championships.

Sailing The "gliding roots" notwithstanding, first sporting activity of Sebastian Kawa was competitive sailing. He was the member of the sailing club "Neptune" sponsored by the local automobile factory (FSM Bielsko). From 8 to 18 years of age he raced in Cadet, Optimist and 420 class. He regularly placed first in National Championships and was representing Poland in World Championships. Sebastian Kawa fondly recalls receiving a trophy from Princess Diana after (2nd place) one of the races off the shore of Wales. As his club (a recurring theme during all his sporting career) did not belong to the mainstream of the power structure of the Polish sport establishment, Sebastian Kawa had to sometimes overcome obstacles caused by petty bureaucratic favoritism.

At age 18 Sebastian Kawa had to quit competitive sailing. At this age, the sports rules required transition to the classes of sailboats his club was not equipped with (e.g. 470 class) and could not afford. The transition from the communist rule in Poland and associated changes in industrial ownership caused his club to lose the sponsor. This probably cost Sebastian Kawa his chances for an Olympic sports career.

Flight training In the meantime, at the age of 16, Sebastian Kawa completed ab-initio gliding training and became (July 1988) a student pilot. For the next 2 years, all while engaged in sailing, he quickly advances in subsequent stages of glider pilot training, logging over 200 hours. In 1989 he gains his first "diamond" to the gliding badge (declared 300 km closed loop flight) and makes the >3 km gain of altitude flight. He trains extensively in Pirat, Junior, Foka and Cobra gliders. He also obtained glider ratings for night and instrument flying. During this time, he also commenced extensive cross country flight training. In his biography, Sebastian Kawa credits his father for passing him the knowledge and experience necessary to compete effectively in this sport.

Competitive gliding From 1992 (win in Polish Junior Nationals in Leszno flying the Junior glider), Sebastian Kawa climbs the ladder of progressively more elite gliding competitions, gradually advancing his placements up to the 3rd place in the 1999 World Championships in the World (PW-5) class and the win in 2003 in the same class. From this moment on, he wins virtually every topmost level competition he starts in, accumulating 9 gold medals at the world championship level and becoming the most decorated gliding pilot in history.

In his biography Sebastian Kawa vividly describes the process of accumulating experience and knowledge necessary to compete at elite level. He expresses the opinion that "it takes about 10 years of maximal concentration and effort to get to fly against the masters". In many places however he reminds of an always present factor of chance in aviation, referring to, and in the spirit of the cult book "Fate Is the Hunter" by Ernest Gann, the chance which had to be reckoned with, even with most minute and knowledgeable planning.

In November 2024, he was awarded the FAI Gold Air Medal, the highest honour conferred by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, becoming the first Pole to receive such recognition. The ceremony took place in Riyadh in the presence of the Saudi Royal Family.

Personal life Sebastian Kawa graduated (some classes with honors) from the city of Żywiec high school and got his medical degree from Medical University of Silesia (obstetrics and gynaecology). His work at the Bielsko-Biała General Hospital he describes by the remark "...it seems all children choose to be born at midnight". In his free time Sebastian Kawa actively teaches at Mountain Gliding School "Żar". He is married to Anna, with two children.

Gliding instructor Sebastian Kawa is very active promoting the sport and teaching and training gliding enthusiasts at all competence levels (including student pilots). Training with him is often available individually at the Mountain Gliding School "Żar" and during training camps organized jointly by the Mountain Gliding School "Żar" and Karkonosze Gliding Association.

Current/Recent major competition Sebastian Kawa had won the Champion title in the 18m Class at the 17th European Gliding Championships at Vinon-sur-Verdon. This is his first major title in the 18m Class. Sebastian Kawa defended the European Champion title in the Standard Class at the 17th FAI European Gliding Championships (2013) in Ostrów Wielkopolski (5–20 July 2013). After to silver medals in Sisteron and Räyskälä in 2014 Sebastian defended again 15m class champion title in Leszno Wilkopolskie. Since gliding classes have multiplied ( with 20m class and 13.5m class added recently ) there are two editions of competitions each year and with Sailplane Grand Prix it gives three possibilities to participate in FAI first class events every second year ( except if competition fall at the turn of the year ). In 2015 Sebastian Kawa defended his 18m class title from France winning competition in Őcsény. He claims the busy season did not give a chance to prepare for SGP finals in Varese, resulting in a bronze medal.

Highlights of Vinon-sur-Verdon (18m Class) competition

Position after 9th and the last competition day: first, giving the Europe Champion title.

Day 1: very late and handicapped start (4pm for 400 km, 50 min after main competitors, >600 m lower), from well below allowed altitude due to very weak thermal conditions near airfield. Managed to place 4th flying a good synergy of thermal and ridge lifts on the second half of the course. Day 2: tricky conditions at first part of the task (subtle subinversion blue wave). Deep penetration of AAT areas (second mileage of the day) flown to a second place.

Day 1: Sebastian Kawa took 1st, Christophe Cousseau of France 2nd. Incidentally it is exactly the same order as final results of 18 metre class Championship competition a month before. Sebastian Kawa mentioned the deteriorating weather as one of the factors allowing him to win – such conditions gave the advantage to pilots flying aggressively to lead. Day 2: 1st position again, leading two other team members (Paweł Wojciechowski and Łukasz Wójcik) to 2nd and 3rd place. This was an AAT task, Polish team took the longest route. Day 10: 15th. Late start due to instrumentation problems, some competitors managed to use the wave lift (rare occurrence in the lowlands competition area). Enough to win first place overall (with 2 other Polish pilots in the Standard class – Łukasz Wójcik and Paweł Wojciechowski – taking silver and bronze medals).

On 20 July 2024, Kawa and Sebastian Lampart took off in a Schleicher ASH 25 glider from Skardu and soared over K2 and Masherbrum. The flight was the culmination of obtaining many permits and driving the glider overground from Poland to Pakistan. It was the first time a glider has flown over K2.

Major titles

By winning his fifth (Grand Prix excluded) World Champion title in 2012 (Uvalde), Sebastian Kawa became the most successful Championships pilot in history, exceeding Ingo Renner's of Australia lifelong record of four championship titles. Since then, Kawa has won eight more World Championships, at Chavez ( 2013 ), Leszno ( 2014 ), Benalla (2017), Ostrów Wielkopolski (2018), Hosin (2018), Stalowa Wola (2019), Prievidza (2019) and Montluçon–Guéret (2021).

Sponsors A longtime sponsor of Sebastian Kawa is the local government of the city of Bielsko-Biała, Lotto Extreme, TFI Opera, Ailleron