Aerobatic Team Żelazny

Grupa Akrobacyjna Żelazny (Aerobatic Team Żelazny) is a Polish civilian aerobatic team founded in 1999. They are based at Kąkolewo Aerodrome (near Poznań) where the group maintains hangars and conducts training. Żelazny is known for tight formation aerobatics and aggressive low-level solo work, typically flying two-to-three aircraft displays from a fleet centered on the Zlín Z-50 and Extra 330 series, with additional types used for specific roles.

From 2020–2024, the team flew as ORLEN Grupa Akrobacyjna Żelazny under a title sponsorship that included refreshed liveries and branding.

Zlín Z-50 (LS/LA/LX). Single-seat all-metal aerobatic monoplane powered by the Lycoming AEIO-540. First flown in 1975, the Z-50 family is stressed up to around +9/−6 g and famed for rapid roll performance. The Z-50LX variant was optimized for airshows with additional internal fuel tanks and a smoke system. Żelazny primarily flies the Z-50LS/LA in displays.

Extra 330LC. Modern unlimited-class aerobatic monoplane by Extra Flugzeugbau (Walter Extra). Typical spec: welded steel-tube fuselage, composite wing, Lycoming AEIO-580 (~300 hp), and ±10 g limits—ideal for high-energy solo segments. The team added an Extra 330LC to broaden routines in the late 2000s.

Pyro & night effects. In 2023 Żelazny fitted selected aircraft with wingtip pyro firing stations, enabling coloured smoke by day and fireworks for dusk/night shows.

Origins. Żelazny formed in 1999 within Poland’s sport-flying community and has since become one of the country’s longest-running civilian aerobatic teams. Their home base and training hub is Kąkolewo, where they maintain dedicated facilities.

Growth & fleet. Through the 2000s the team standardized on the Zlín Z-50 family for formation work while incorporating other types (e.g., Extra 330LC) for solo sequences and competition. Typical public displays feature two or three aircraft, backed by a larger maintenance/training fleet.

2007 Radom tragedy. On 1 September 2007 at the Radom Air Show, two Żelazny aircraft collided during a “rose” break, fatally injuring pilots Lech Marchelewski and Piotr Banachowicz. The team later restructured and continued performing.

Recent era. In 2020 Żelazny joined the ORLEN Team under a multi-year sponsorship, flying refreshed red-white liveries through the 2024 season and adding wingtip pyro capabilities in 2023.

• Żelazny is billed as Poland’s largest and longest-running civilian aerobatic group.
• The team’s Kąkolewo base includes its own hangar and training facilities.
• The Zlín Z-50LX variant was tailored for airshows with extra fuel and a factory smoke system.
• Typical displays use 2–4 aircraft, though the team maintains a larger fleet (≈10 airframes).
• From 2020, Żelazny flew in the ORLEN Team family with branded aircraft and suits.