FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA)

The Darius & Girėnas Trophy is presented to the winning Men’s Team at the European Aerobatic Championships.

The trophy was donated by Lithuania in 2003. The award is named after two famous Lithuanian flyers, Stephen Darius and Stanley Girėnas. In July 1933, these pilots attempted a non-stop flight between New York City and Kaunas, Lithuania flying their Bellanca CH-300 “Pacemaker” which they had named “Lituanica”. Tragically, the flight ended in a crash near Rosenthal, Germany in Pomerania (now Rozansko) just 404 miles short of their goal. They had flown 3,984 miles in 37 hours, 11 minutes. These brave pilots remain among Lithuania’s greatest aviation heroes to this day.