Zurakowski, Janusz Jan
Name/Title
Zurakowski, Janusz "Jan"Description
Born 12 Sept 1914 in Ryzawka, Russia, Zura fled with his parents to Poland, in 1921, after the Russian Revolution. He became a fighter pilot in Poland, and fought with the Polish Air Force when the Nazis attacked Poland. He ended up in England flying with the RAF throughout the war, he was credited with six kills of enemy aircraft as a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, for which he was decorated. After the war, he was a test pilot in Britain at Gloster working under Bill Waterton, the Canadian who was the first test pilot of the Avro CF-100 Canuck. By this time he was also an accomplished air show performer having created the first new maneuver in 20 years. He joined Avro Canada on 22 April 1952 a day after he moved to Canada. He became chief experimental pilot and led the flight testing of the CF-100 and later the CF-105. 18 Dec 1952, Zura became the first person to break the speed barrier in a straight wing aircraft, without rocket power, in a CF-100 (in a dive)! As Senior Development Test Pilot flew at Farnborough 1955 in a CF-100. Went Supersonic in Arrow 203 on its maiden flight in 1958, flew 202 for 70 minutes and stated in 1959 he believed Arrow would fly 'two sousand' with the Iroquois. While with Engineering as Engineering & Flight Test Liaison 1959 - retires after Black Friday. Zura was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973, he attended a number of reunions including the Arrow 30th anniversary celebration in 1988, 40th celebration dinner in 1998, and the CF-100 50th anniversary celebration in 2000. Died at his home in Barry's Bay, Ontario 9 Feb 2004 at the age of 89.Category
Biography