**Žár – Legend of Polish gliding**

**[Music]** Gliding aviation originated in Western Europe shortly after World War I, around **1920**. Germany, France, and Britain led the way. By **1923**, Poland joined the ranks. That November, a conference was held to establish Germany-free aviation in the country, attended by representatives from the **Związek Lotników Polskich**, technical students’ clubs, and the **KMSPW** aviation section. The **Liga Obrony Powietrznej Państwa** organized scientific expeditions, including pilot Tadeusz Karpiński and engineer Adam Karpiński (a renowned alpinist). They tested potential gliding sites in Poland—**Czerwone Wierchy** (Tatra Mountains), **Babia Góra** (Beskids), and **Chowerla** (Eastern Carpathians)—all with heights over **1,000 meters** and favorable orography. The **Babia Góra expedition** lasted three days. From **November 30 to December 2, 1923**, the combined mission exceeded two weeks, yielding invaluable experience. However, due to various factors, new gliding sites were sought—**Bieszczady** and other mountains, including **Žár in Małe Beskidy**, discovered by the **Związek Awiatyczny Studentów Politechniki Lwowskiej** in **1934**. The **1936** start of Žár’s gliding field is widely accepted. By **1937**, it became a gliding school. Before WWII, the school achieved record-breaking sports results—until war abruptly halted progress. A pre-war curiosity: early gliders were manually hauled up Žár’s slopes by human strength. Later, they were transported using **train-mounted** systems.