Don Rogers, Avro Canada test boss in 1950s dies
The Toronto Sun today reports the death at 89, in Toronto, of Don Rogers, Avro Canada test pilot boss in the fifties The test pilot, who ran the ill-fated Avro Arrow's flights, although he never flew one, will be remembered as a "gentleman" who clocked 12.000 hours in the air.
Don Rogers flew more than 30 aircraft from before WW2 until he was 63 and then trained pilots for further 7 years. He test-flew Lancaster bombers, assembled in the Victory Aircraft plant at Malton and later became the test pilot for the Avro Jetliner which he flew from Toronto to New York in 1950 in half the previous 116 minute record.
John Harper of Toronto Aerospce Musuem described Rogers as "just a great fella, but a very quiet, gentle person".