The exhibit of the Month – September 2026. Gas Balloon

What do the gas industry, sports, and long-distance travel have in common? The answer can be found at the Warsaw Gasworks Museum, where an interactive model of a gas balloon serves as a reminder of one of the greatest achievements in Polish ballooning.

On September 15, 1935, the “Polonia II” balloon took off from Warsaw, piloted by Zbigniew Burzyński and Władysław Wysocki. The Polish crew covered over 1,650 kilometers in 57 hours and 54 minutes, landing in the town of Tishkino near Stalingrad, now Volgograd. The flight secured the Poles’ victory in the prestigious Gordon Bennett Cup competition and set world records for distance and duration in its class. It was Poland’s third consecutive victory, thanks to which the cup became the permanent property of Poland.

The interactive balloon model on display at the Warsaw Gasworks Museum is intended to commemorate more than just this exceptional feat. It also demonstrates that the gas industry played a vital role in the development of modern cities, sports, and travel. Gas was used not only to light streets, heat homes, and prepare meals. It also made it possible to carry out ambitious projects that allowed people to explore the world and push beyond previously known boundaries.

This is a story of courage, knowledge, and innovation—and proof that the history of the gas industry stretches much further back than one might think.