On 25th April 2016, councilors of the regional council of Podkarpackie Province resolved to give Wojciech Potkański, PhD Eng. the badge of honor “Merited for Podkarpackie Province”.
In the years 1971-1995 Wojciech Potkański was an employee of OBR, then in WSK Mielec where he was responsible for the aerodynamics, strength and flutter analysis of aircraft being designed at this time in Mielec (including M-15 Belfegor, Dromader M-18, M-26 Iskierka, I-22 Iryda, M-28 Skytruck). In the years 1981-1995 he was a researcher in Rzeszów University of Technology. He gave lectures and classes in aeroelasticity and flight mechanics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics.
In the years 1999/2000 he was one of the main negotiators of the cooperation agreement with the General Electric in the design and testing of aircraft engines which was completed with the signing of a cooperation agreement on 17th April 2000 (in force until 2025). He actively participated in the creation and integration of EDC research teams into the Institute of Aviation.
Since 2004 Wojciech Potkański has been participating at Institute of Aviation in the implementation and execution of the offset program associated with the purchase of F-16 aircraft and CASA-295. The result of this activity is the rapid development of the laboratories for materials and structures testing. The offset programs were a starting point for the Institute of Aviation to enter the national (WSK Rzeszów, PZL Mielec) and global markets of advanced research.
Wojciech Potkański is an active member of the Applied Vehicle Technology Panel at the AVT Organisation for Research and Technology STO NATO as one of the three representatives appointed by the Polish Ministry of National Defence. Since 1st July 2015 Wojciech Potkański has been employed at the Institute of Aviation as a senior advisor.
He was awarded with many distinctions, among others,
- Knight’s Cross – 2011,
- Gold Cross of Merit – 2002,
- Silver Cross of Merit – 1988,
- Bronze Cross of Merit – 1980,
- Gold Medal “Merit for National Defence” – 2006,
- SIMP Gold Honorary Badge – 2006,
- NOT Silver Medal of Honor – 2010.
