The tower stands high and is built on top of a hill, making it high launch above the valley below. Several public flights are claimed between 1866 and 1869, mainly during religious festivals, carnivals and New Year celebrations., and that during the Pentecost Carnival held on 16 May 1869 at Odporyszów, Austria-Hungary, Wnęk's made a flight that ended in an accident. An assistant, Michał Sowiński, was reported to be implicated in his death. He died a few weeks later, aged 41, leaving a wife and three children. His flying activities spanned about four years. If these flights took place, they preceded those of Otto Lilienthal by 25 years. Unknown outside the locality, any achievement made by Wnek had no influence on the development of heavier-than-air flight. References External links Flying Machines - The pioneer Aviation Group Polish aviation history. By Dr. Stanisław Konstanty Wałęga Kraków's Museum of Ethnography Photo of the Odporyszów church tower: Jan Wnęk Museum in Odporyszów , Some sculptures and paintings by Jan Wnęk Photo of monument dedicated to Jan Wnęk: Jan Wnęk. Biography - in Polish and French language. , , 1828 births 1869 deaths Aviation inventors Aviation pioneers Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents People from Dąbrowa County Polish aviators Polish inventors Polish sculptors Polish male sculptors Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1869 Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Poland