| Sebastian Kawa | |
| Birth Date: | 1972 11, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Zabrze[1] Poland |
| Nationality: | Polish |
| Spouse: | Anna |
| Relatives: | father Tomasz Kawa, glider pilot |
| Known For: | most World Champion titles in gliding history, 2004-2018 among top 3 ranked FAI glider pilots, four times World Grand Prix Champion |
| First Flight Aircraft: | SZD-50 Puchacz |
| First Flight Date: | June 7, 1988 |
| First Race: | 1992 Polish Junior Nationals, 1st place win |
| Racing Best: | current Standard and 15 m class World Champion |
| Racing Aircraft: | SZD-56 Diana 2, Discus-2a, ASG 29 |
Sebastian Kawa (born 15 November 1972, Zabrze) is a Polish glider pilot, seventeen-time World Champion, FAI world leading glider competition pilot (as of 2023, number one in the world rankings of the FAI Gliding Commission[2]) and the current World Champion in 15m Class and European gliding champion in 18m Class.[3] In 2024, together with Sebastian Lampart, he became the first pilot in aviation history to fly over K2 in a glider.[4]
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.[5] [6] 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.[7] He is also (like his parents) a qualified physician, working at the General Hospital in Bielsko-Biała.[8]
He is also known in the Polish gliding community for numerous Web writings and films popularizing the sport.[9] [10] [11]
His autobiography and advanced gliding tutorial Sky Full of Heat (English and Polish language editions) was published in December 2012.[12]
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".[13] 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.[14]
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.
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.
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[15] 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".[16] 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.
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.
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"[17] and during training camps organized jointly by the Mountain Gliding School "Żar" and Karkonosze Gliding Association[18]
Sebastian Kawa had won the Champion title in the 18m Class at the 17th European Gliding Championships at Vinon-sur-Verdon.[19] [20] 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.[21] 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.[22] He claims the busy season did not give a chance to prepare for SGP finals in Varese, resulting in a bronze medal.
Position after 9th and the last competition day: first, giving the Europe Champion title.[23]
17th FAI European Gliding Championships (2013) in Ostrów Wielkopolski (5–20 July 2013). Sebastian Kawa competed in the Standard Class, flying Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a and defending his 2011 Champion title.[25] [26] [27]
In late 2013 Kawa was engaged in a reconnaissance to learn of practical gliding conditions in the high parts of the Himalayas range. The aim was to fly over the highest peaks of Nepal using Schleicher ASH 25Mi glider.[30]
On 21 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.[31]
| Competition | Venue | Year | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Bronze | ||||
| 2001 | Bronze | ||||
| 2003 | Gold | ||||
| 2004 | Gold | ||||
| 2005 | Gold | ||||
| 2005 | Gold | ||||
| 2006 | Gold | ||||
| 2007 | Gold | ||||
| 2007 | Grand Prix | Gold | |||
| 2009 | Grand Prix | Gold | |||
| 2010 | Grand Prix | Gold | |||
| 2010 | Gold | ||||
| 2011 | Gold | ||||
| 2012 | Gold | ||||
| 2013 | Gold | ||||
| 2013 | Gold | ||||
| 2013 | Gold | ||||
| 2014 | Grand Prix | Silver | |||
| 2014 | Silver | ||||
| 2014 | Gold | ||||
| 2015 | Gold | ||||
| 2015 | Grand Prix | Bronze[32] | |||
| 2017 | 15m | Gold | |||
| 2018 | Gold | ||||
| 2018 | 15m | Gold | |||
| 2018 | 20m | Gold | |||
| 2019 | Gold | ||||
| 2019 | Grand Prix | Silver | |||
| 2019 | Gold | ||||
| 2021 | Gold | ||||
| 2023 | Gold |
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 (2018), Hosin (2018), Stalowa Wola (2019), Prievidza (2019) and Montluçon – Guéret (2021).[3]
Sebastian Kawa held a world record for the "Three Turn Points Distance" in World Class in 1999 but this has since been superseded.[33]
A longtime sponsor of Sebastian Kawa is the local government of the city of Bielsko-Biała,[34] Lotto Extreme, TFI Opera, Ailleron [35]