On 8th December the Institute of Aviation was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening the laboratories in Materials and Structures Research Center.

The participants of the anniversary ceremony included: the Director of the Institute of Aviation – Professor Witold Wiśniowski, the Director of the Materials and Structures Research Center – Antoni Niepokólczycki, PhD Eng, the former directors of the Center, as well as current and former employees.

Among the invited guests were representatives of the Ministry of Economy, army, PZL Mielec, WSK Rzeszów, technology and aviation companies.

Professor Witold Wiśniowski, Director of the Institute of Aviation, in his welcoming speech presented the history of materials research. It is worth to notice that strength research of materials and elements of aircraft structures has been conducted since the Institute of Aviation was established in 1926.

The Materials and Structures Research Center has existed since 6th December 2004, when it was re-organized after the offset agreement between Poland and the U.S including the purchase of the American fighters F-16. The American company Pratt&Whitney was the executor of  the offset commitments.

The 10th anniversary of the opening of the laboratories in Materials and Structures Research Center falls in line not only with the rich history of research conducted at the Institute of Aviation, but also sets the highest quality standards of research services. Through the offset agreement, the M&SRC is at the forefront of materials and structures research in Poland and one of the most modern and most efficient centers of its kind in Europe. It has on-going contracts with the American aircraft engine manufacturers.

Present activities and successes of the M&SRC were presented by its Director, Antoni Niepokólczycki, who during his recent visit in the U.S. on the Polish-American Week of Innovation represented not only the Center but also the Institute of Aviation in business matters. On the occasion of the jubilee, Mr Niepokólczycki presented also the strategy development of the M&SRC.

The rest of the speakers introduced the invited guests into organizational structure of the M&SRC, especially presenting the aims and planned activities of its subdivisions and laboratories.

Michał Szmidt, PhD Eng, spoke about structures testing.

Wojciech Manaj, PhD Eng, provided a presentation on materials research.

After all the presentations the anniversary statuettes and certificates were handed out.

A commemorative statuette for the engagement in establishing and development of the M&SRC was given to Leszek Rams, present Director of Infrastructure.

Certificates were given to the former directors of the M&SRC:

  • Beata Kozyra, PhD,
  • Krzysztof Kawalec, PhD Eng,
  • Professor Grzegorz Socha,
  • Grzegorz Galin, PhD
  • Antoni Niepokólczycki, PhD Eng.

At the end of the anniversary ceremony was held a concert of Edith Piaf songs performed by Dorota Lulka with the band: Paweł Nowak – accordion and Maciej Sadowski – double bass.

Guests of the celebration were also invited for a sweet treat. The cake was cut together by Director of the Institute of Aviation and Director of Materials and Structures Research Center.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the opening of the laboratories a commemorative folder presenting the Materials and Structures Research Center was published.

Photo gallery from the anniversary ceremony.

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