The Otto Lilienthal
Medal - Awarded to the Czech Republic For The First Time - (To Hana
Zejdová)
Author: Vladislav Zejda
(Hana Zejdova's father)
Book, Hardcover, 88 pages, many excellent color photos,
Published in 2008, Text in both the English and Czech languages
Dimensions: 8.39 x 8.54 x 0.47 inches
(213 x 217 x 12 mm)
Overview
This is a very interesting little book - in many ways. It starts with a
nice history of Otto Lilienthal's contributions to aviation and goes on
to describe the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) award
bearing his name. It then describes the first time the medal was
awarded to someone in the Czech Republic - to Hana Zejdová. The
reason I stated that the book was interesting in many ways is that many
aspects of the book make it interesting to just about any pilot -
especially any glider pilot. I learned a lot from the book, and I
was inspired by the book. I learned a lot about Otto Lilienthal
and other award winning legends of aviation. I learned much about
the many amazing accomplishments of Hana Zejdová. I was inspired
by how Hana has overcome many challenges and discrimination and earned
more world records than anyone else in aviation history (man or woman) -
a total of
57 world records to date. I enjoyed reading about Hana's
success as a soaring contest pilot, and her amazing record setting
adventures in Australia. I also found here plans for the future
equally intriguing. The ICADA Project has among its goals to fly a
glider across the Atlantic Ocean and even around the world.
This book should be
appealing to every glider pilot, young and old, male and female.
It should be especially appealing to women. It is a story of a
woman overcoming many obstacles and achieving greatness.
Excellent
Photography
Along with her obvious drive to set world records in sailplanes, Hana
has a passion for photography. The book is filled with many
wonderful photos taken on her soaring adventures. These are very
high quality images! You can see a few examples at right.
All the photos at right are in the book (without the copyright
watermarks). As someone who enjoys taking photos of sailplanes, I
have become a fan of her soaring photos. You can see a collection
of her glider photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/diana2.szd56.2.vh.vhz/GlidingPictures#
About the Author
The book was written by Hana's father, Vladislav Zejda. He
obviously loves his daughter very much and has done much to support her
love of aviation. He is also a soaring world record holder and
accomplished soaring contest pilot. Below is the text from the "A
word about the author" page of the book.
Vladislav
Zejda (1934) began to fly in Brno at Medlánky airfield in 1951,
first Czechoslovak World record holder in gliding, Champion of
Czechoslovakia and France from 1957, successful member of the
national team in the 50's. During the period of
"normalization" after 1968 was not admitted to the national team.
As an instructor, he trained dozens of pilots who became successful
sportsmen, transport and military pilots. After 1989, as an
old-pensioner, organizes trips to Australia and takes part in
preparation of gliding expeditions that have broken many gliding
records for the Czech Republic. Thanks to him, Kangaroo
expeditions and the Icada project have international significance.
Review by
Kathleen Winters - Sailplane Pilot and Author of
Anne Morrow Lindbergh -
First Lady of the Air
"I thoroughly
enjoyed reading this book, an inspiring and entertaining account of
Hana Zejdova’s stellar achievements in soaring -- she holds 57 world
records to date! --and the hardships she overcame on her path to
greatness. Readers will learn of her struggles and sacrifices along
the way, and her ongoing dedication to the sport of soaring.
Accompanying the narrative are many scenic photographs taken by
Hana."
Personal Note
When Hana approached me with the idea of selling this book in the USA, I
remembered that she and I had both been soaring in Tocumwal, Australia
at the same time (December, 1996). I don't think I met her (I'm
sure I would remember if I did), but I was there while she was there on
one of her record setting adventures. I was in Australia on a 2
week business trip. I had 1 day set aside for soaring so I decided
to make the most of it. I reserved a Nimbus 4DM sailplane and Ingo
Renner as my instructor. I had a wonderful 5 hour flight with Ingo
that day - covering hundreds of kilometers just below cloudbase at 8,000
feet in the wonderful Nimbus. I learned a lot that day from Ingo,
and I had a ball. I remember that at some point in the day Ingo
said I should be sure to meet Hana. He said that she was an
amazing woman setting many world records. It was clear that she
had impressed the 4-time world soaring champion Ingo Renner. I now
regret that we did not meet at that time. I hope we will in the
future.
Ingo Renner is now
flying from the
Southern Riverina Gliding Club in Tocumwal, Australia.
Notes on Hana from the
FAI web site
Ms. Hana Zejdova, born in 1962, is a
Czech citizen and a member of the Aero Club of the Czech Republic,
and has flown more than 4,000 flying hours and over 150,000 km as a
glider pilot. She won the title of European Women's Gliding Champion
in 1993 in 15m, broke more than 225 national gliding records in
both general and women's categories). Between 1997 and 1999 she
broke more than 50 world gliding records (in both categories). In
addition, Hana Zejdova holds the FAI Gold Gliding Badge with three
diamonds as well as the 1,000 km FAI Glider Flight Diploma and the
Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal.
FAI Awards Received by Hana Zejdová
- 1996 -
The Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal
This Medal was created by the FAI in
1989, following a proposal by the Aero Club of Poland, in memory of
Madame Pelagia MAJEWSKA, eminent Polish glider pilot awarded the
Lilienthal Medal for 190, and holder of 17 world gliding records,
who lost her life in an air accident in 1988. The Medal is offered
to the FAI by the Aero Club of Poland. It may be awarded annually,
on recommendation by the FAI Gliding Commission, to a female glider
pilot to reward : a particularly remarkable performance in gliding
during the past year, or eminent services to gliding over a long
period of time.
- 1999 -
The Lilienthal Gliding Medal
To reward a particularly remarkable performance in gliding, or
eminent services to the sport of gliding over a long period of time,
the FAI created this medal in 1938. It may be awarded annually to a
glider pilot who has : - established an international record during
the past year ; or made a pioneer flight (defined as a flight which
has opened new possibilities for gliding and/or gliding techniques)
; or rendered eminent service to the sport of gliding over a
significant period of time, and is still an active glider pilot.
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