Approaching an aerobatic plane I feel great excitement and happiness. There is no better feeling than knowing I am in the right place; that in a few minutes I will be able to draw vertical lines and feel what only a very few people can experience. When I sit in this tiny cockpit everything else loses its interest. I know that in a minute I will be in the sky and in heaven! The world starts spinning around with the first movement of the control stick, and nothing exists apart from the wish for a perfect aerobatic flight.
Just when I thought “life doesn’t get any better”, I saw an advert posted by the British Aerobatics Foundation promoting a scholarship scheme for young pilots, and offering help with further training.
I made it to the final five, and although, unfortunately, I wasn’t awarded the scholarship, I valued it as a fantastic experience and lesson, and moved forward. At this point I would like to express how thankful I am to the Foundation’s members, especially David Cowden for his help with my initial training and preparation for competition flying.
2007 was a pretty sad year since our team sponsors backed out and there wasn’t much flying going on. By the end of the year I decided it was time to change things around, and what other job would keep me happier than a job in flying?
It was time for commercial pilot training. All of my live savings as well as a few loans paid for eight months of really intensive learning, followed by another six months of flight training.
As a newly graduated commercial pilot I started looking for jobs, but it’s harder than it seems. At that time the eastern European market was growing and a new low cost airline was starting to recruit. In preparation for the anticipated forthcoming interviews, I bought a copy of “How to Ace Technical Pilot Interview” – the best purchase ever! You may ask “why”? My old friend invited me to Warsaw for a party and to catch up little bit, and not to waste any free time I was reading the aforementioned book on the plane. About half way through the flight the lady sitting next to me became interested in the book and in me as well, and following a long conversation about myself, my plans and the airline, right at the end of that memorable flight she introduced herself as Head of Recruitment for that airline. A few months later I was invited to an official interview, and six months I was accepted for airline training.
Right now, when waking up every morning, putting on my uniform and going to work to fly a shiny new Airbus I can hardly believe my luck. I would like to encourage everyone to try it – to pursue their dreams. It’s worth it!
Right now, when flying over London at thirty-six thousand feet, I think of that young boy and his poor family, and I cannot believe that this happened. But it’s still not the end! I have more dreams.
Now that I’m back flying aerobatic aircraft I want to win competitions and maybe one day become first Polish pilot at Red Bull Air Races.
To conclude, all I want to say is this: all we need to pursue our dreams and make them come true is passion and determination Some can say “yes – but what about money?” To that I say: “Money will follow!”
I would also like to thank the many remarkable people I met along the way, without whom and whose help I would not have made it!
We all dream, but only a few people have enough strength and faith not to give up, and to fight. Although reaching your dreams is not easy and often pretty rough, it’s a beautiful road that we need to follow.