Famous Polish/Canadian Test Pilot dies!

[Ed Majden]

It is sad to report that famous Polish/Canadian CF-105 Arrow test pilot
has died as reported on this evenings CTV News. Jan flew with the RAF
during WWII emigrating to Canada after the war. He became AVRO Canada's
chief test pilot. First on the CF-100 where he was credited with a first,
breaking the sound barrier in a strait winged "jet" aircraft. He was chief
test pilot on the sadly cancelled CF-105 Arrow project.

[Dave Kearton]

"Ed Majden" > wrote in message
news:F3gWb.465691$X%5.301214@pd7tw2no...
| It is sad to report that famous Polish/Canadian CF-105 Arrow test
pilot
| has died as reported on this evenings CTV News. Jan flew with the RAF
| during WWII emigrating to Canada after the war. He became AVRO Canada's
| chief test pilot. First on the CF-100 where he was credited with a first,
| breaking the sound barrier in a strait winged "jet" aircraft. He was
chief
| test pilot on the sadly cancelled CF-105 Arrow project.
|
|


This would be Jan Zurkowski ?



A fine aviator - sadly never saw him work.




Regards


Dave Kearton

[Ed Majden]

"Dave Kearton" >
> This would be Jan Zurkowski ?

Yes! I inadvertently for got to include his last name, Jan Zurakoski..
Sorry.

Ed Majden

[Ken Duffey]

Ed Majden wrote:

> "Dave Kearton" >
> > This would be Jan Zurkowski ?
>
> Yes! I inadvertently for got to include his last name, Jan Zurakoski..
> Sorry.
>
> Ed Majden

Was it he I read quoted in a magazine many years ago ??

He was test pilot for Glosters - IIRC - and is supposed to have said 'They
think I know f**k nothing ! - they are wrong - I know f**k all !!!'

It was either him - or some other Polish pilot.

If any none - English-speaking readers need an
explanation....................

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers Website - http://www.flankers.co.uk/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++

[Brian Colwell]

"Ed Majden" > wrote in message
news:F3gWb.465691$X%5.301214@pd7tw2no...
> It is sad to report that famous Polish/Canadian CF-105 Arrow test
pilot
> has died as reported on this evenings CTV News. Jan flew with the RAF
> during WWII emigrating to Canada after the war. He became AVRO Canada's
> chief test pilot. First on the CF-100 where he was credited with a first,
> breaking the sound barrier in a strait winged "jet" aircraft. He was
chief
> test pilot on the sadly cancelled CF-105 Arrow project.
>
I had the pleasure of meeting him when he flew into the airport I was
working out of, this was during the 70s, when he was instructing in
aerobatics ! and he would drop in for a coffee.

His contribution to Canadian aviation will not be forgotten.

BMC

[Ed Majden]

"Oleg Terebov" > wrote in message
...
> Please make it clear: Jan Zurkowski or Jan Zurakoski
>

The correct spelling is "Jan Zurakowski" according to an internet
search.
He served with 234 and 609 RAF Squadrons in the UK during WWII. Do a search
for his name using 'google'. You will find some interesting stories about
his life and career.

Ed

[Dave Kearton]

"Ken Duffey" > wrote in message
...
| Ed Majden wrote:
| Was it he I read quoted in a magazine many years ago ??
|
| He was test pilot for Glosters - IIRC - and is supposed to have said 'They
| think I know f**k nothing ! - they are wrong - I know f**k all !!!'
|
| It was either him - or some other Polish pilot.
|
| If any none - English-speaking readers need an
| explanation....................
|


Not quite - the quote was from film Director Ingo Preminger in the '40s as
quoted by David Niven in "Bring on the Empty Horses"





Cheers


Dave Kearton

[Oleg Terebov]

Please make it clear: Jan Zurkowski or Jan Zurakoski

[Tex Houston]

"Dave Kearton" > wrote in
message ...
> Not quite - the quote was from film Director Ingo Preminger in the '40s as
> quoted by David Niven in "Bring on the Empty Horses"
>
> Cheers

> Dave Kearton


Wasn't the film director's name Otto Preminger? Ingo, who was his brother,
was an agent who later went into producing in a minor way.

Tex

[Dave Kearton]

"Tex Houston" > wrote in message
...
|
| "Dave Kearton" > wrote in
| message ...
| > Not quite - the quote was from film Director Ingo Preminger in the '40s
as
| > quoted by David Niven in "Bring on the Empty Horses"
| >
| > Cheers
|
| > Dave Kearton
|
|
| Wasn't the film director's name Otto Preminger? Ingo, who was his
brother,
| was an agent who later went into producing in a minor way.
|
| Tex


Hi Tex


I thought that myself and (to be honest) I haven't had time to grab my copy
and verify it. I re-read the book about a year ago and you may indeed
be right.





Cheers


Dave Kearton

[Ken Duffey]

Dave Kearton wrote:

> "Ken Duffey" > wrote in message
> ...
> | Ed Majden wrote:
> | Was it he I read quoted in a magazine many years ago ??
> |
> | He was test pilot for Glosters - IIRC - and is supposed to have said 'They
> | think I know f**k nothing ! - they are wrong - I know f**k all !!!'
> |
> | It was either him - or some other Polish pilot.
> |
> | If any none - English-speaking readers need an
> | explanation....................
> |
>
> Not quite - the quote was from film Director Ingo Preminger in the '40s as
> quoted by David Niven in "Bring on the Empty Horses"
>
> Cheers
>
> Dave Kearton

I know my memory is getting bad - but I didn't think it was that bad !!!

It just shows how memory can play tricks on you.

Thanks for the correction.

Ken

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers Website - http://www.flankers.co.uk/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++

[Dave Kearton]

"Ken Duffey" > wrote in message
...
| Dave Kearton wrote:
|
| I know my memory is getting bad - but I didn't think it was that bad !!!
|
| It just shows how memory can play tricks on you.
|
| Thanks for the correction.
|
| Ken
|


No problems Ken


Jan Zurakowski is no different to the rest of us, in that he'll be
remembered differently by his family, his colleagues in the two air forces
he worked with and the hundreds of thousands who saw his airshow
performances.



What a shame, the little video cameras weren't available in the '50s to
record his "falling leaf" and "cartwheel" manouvres in the CF100. Two
routines that haven't been succesfully performed - in a similar sized
aircraft - since.






Cheers


Dave Kearton

[Ed Majden]

"Dave Keaton et al"
> >
> > Not quite - the quote was from film Director Ingo Preminger in the '40s
as
> > quoted by David Niven in "Bring on the Empty Horses"
> >
> > Cheers
> >
I find it amazing that this thread has turned into a "Hollywood*
discussion!
Please, life does NOT revolve around Hollywood and the movie industry! At
least I hope it doesn't! God help us if it does!
Ed Majden

[Dave Kearton]

"Ed Majden" > wrote in message
news:seyWb.475382$X%5.178090@pd7tw2no...
|
| "Dave Keaton et al"
| > >
| > > Not quite - the quote was from film Director Ingo Preminger in the
'40s
| as
| > > quoted by David Niven in "Bring on the Empty Horses"
| > >
| > > Cheers
| > >
| I find it amazing that this thread has turned into a "Hollywood*
| discussion!
| Please, life does NOT revolve around Hollywood and the movie industry! At
| least I hope it doesn't! God help us if it does!
| Ed Majden
|
|



So Ed, you're taking over the role of thread cop now ?



Does the job come with a badge ?




Cheers


Dave Kearton

[JasiekS]

U¿ytkownik "Oleg Terebov" > napisa³ w wiadomo¶ci
...
> Please make it clear: Jan Zurkowski or Jan Zurakoski

He was born Jan ¯urakowski (spelling: Yan ZHurakovski) although he
dropped Polosh letter in his last name after arrival to England. Some
sources call him (incorrect!) Janusz, but these are two different names
in Polish. You can find his biography here
http://www.forces.gc.ca/aete/BioJanusz_e.asp
or here
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/avia
tion/m079.htm
In the first place he was born in Ryzawka, Poland in 1914, in the second
in Ryzawka, Russia. In fact, in 1914 Poland didn't exist.

Jan was younger of two brothers who devoted their lives to aviation. His
older brother, Bronislaw Zurakowski, is still alive. He was working
pre-WWII in RWD design team. Postwar he designed famous STOL aircraft
PZL-104 Wilga and first Polish helicopter BZ-1 GIL.

Regards
JasiekS
Warsaw, Poland

In matter of fact, design of first prototype of PZL-104 was led by
Bronislaw Orlowski. Due to unsatisfactory characterics aircraft was
completly re-designed by team led by Bronislaw Zurakowski and Andrzej
Frydrychewicz. Wilga 2 and later versions became one of most successful
aircraft for aero club use.