JB Aviation & Aero Club Picnic

A special event, special guests

On May 24, 2026, JB Aviation & Aero Club held its annual corporate event. As in previous years, the event was attended by clients, business partners, friends, and employees with their families.

Special guests: Franz Odermatt, Sales Manager – Pilatus Aircraft, Jane Wang, Director of Sales, Marketing, and Flight Operations – Diamond Aircraft, Maria Asterhed, COO at Blackwing Sweden | Experienced in Sales, Procurement & Organizational Growth – Blackwing Sweden, Niklas Anderberg – CEO of Blackwing Sweden, Serafina Ogończyk-Mąkowska, President of the Polish Aero Club, Vice President of the FAI World Air Sports Federation, President of the FAI Helicopter Commission, Paweł Bartkiewicz, entrepreneur, airplane and helicopter pilot.

Business partners:J. Safra Sarasin, BPCE Equipment Solutions, McLaren Warsaw, PKO Leasing.

Guest of Honor – Jan Borowski, President and Founder of JB Investments.

Instructor – Piotr Rudzki.

The event began with an official welcome to the guests by Magdalena Karska, Sales Director and Member of the Management Board, and Stanisław Borowski, Managing Director of Aero Club, Member of the Management Board, and President of the Polish Sky Heritage Foundation. The highlight of the event was Franz Odermatt presenting President Jan Borowski with a beautiful Swiss bell, a nod to the Swiss traditions of the Pilatus Aircraft brand, with which we have been collaborating for over 15 years. 

Magdalena Karska and Stanisław Borowski also handed over the keys to the new Pilatus PC-12 PRO to the customer. Guests at the event had the opportunity to see the aircraft in person at the JB Aviation airfield. In addition, the aircraft on display included, among others: the BELL 505, BELL 407 GXi, PIPER M700 FURY, DIAMOND DA50 RG, DIAMOND DA62, Blackwing BW650RG, CABRI G2, TS-8 Bies, and many other aircraft flown in by the invited guests.

The official program also included two panel discussions for the guests.

The first panel discussion focused on restoring the KRUK PZL-106 BR SP-ZCY to airworthy condition and was led by: Stanisław Borowski, Managing Director of the Aero Club, Board Member and President of the Polish Sky Heritage Foundation; Henryk Wicki, a mechanic and specialist in the restoration of historic aircraft; Krzysztof Galus, a test and factory pilot involved in agricultural aviation. However, we are setting this topic aside for a separate discussion. Very soon, we will have some interesting and long-awaited news for our fans.

The second panel, dedicated to a love of aviation, highlighted the profiles of Serafina Ogończyk-Mąkowska and Paweł Bartkiewicz and their stories related to their passion for aviation. Serafina Ogończyk-Mąkowska, a lawyer by training and a Russian-English philologist, is the first woman in history to serve as President of the Polish Aero Club. She began her aviation journey with airplanes, but she also holds a helicopter license and served as a coach for the national helicopter team. She remains actively involved in helisports through the popularization and promotion of helicopter sports. She proudly and honorably represents Poland at international competitions and upholds the finest traditions of Polish helicopter aviation.

“It was Marcin Szamborski who inspired me with his helicopter trip around the world. I called him during that trip. He answered on FaceTime and showed me a live video of a polar bear biting a seal…I asked him: ‘Sir, I want to fly helicopters—will you teach me?’ He said, ‘Yes—I’ll be back, and we’ll get started!’ That’s how it all began.”

Paweł Bartkiewicz has been connected to the Konstancin airfield for many years. When he was just a few years old, his father took him on a flight in a PZL An-2R crop-dusting plane. That’s how his passion began. He graduated from the Military University of Technology with a degree in aviation.

After graduating, he gained experience as a mechanic working on MiG-29s and F-16s. Following his stint in military aviation and a long hiatus, he became interested in civil aviation. He currently flies a Diamond DA40, which he describes as “the cheapest of the good ones.” It’s an aircraft he loves for its diesel engine, reliability, and high level of safety. As a developer, he sees enormous potential in owning such an aircraft, particularly for business travel to international trade shows or scouting locations for new investments.

“You can leave aviation, but aviation is always a part of you,” he added during the conversation.

They both agreed that aviation is a wonderful passion. It involves interacting with the weather, constant new challenges, the chance to test one’s limits, and opportunities for growth. It also involves a thirst for sharing information within the industry, and being part of this community brings immense satisfaction.

After the official portion of the event, guests had the opportunity to enjoy a variety of picnic activities. In keeping with the annual tradition, participants were treated to grilled dishes and pizza baked in a stone oven. In addition, there were numerous attractions to keep everyone entertained: live music, flower wreaths, a photo booth, simulator races, a children’s corner, and much more. As in previous years, the picnic concluded with a joint flyover by the Piper M700 Fury and the Diamond DA50 RG. You can see more in the attached gallery and in the commemorative video.

Thank you to all our guests for coming—see you next year!