Jan Zurakowski has died
 

I hope this is the right forum to post the news that noted test pilot Jan Zurakowski has died at his home in Canada age 88.

He flew gliders at high school, joined the Polish Air Force in 1934,
shot down 3 enemy aircraft in the Battle of Britain, became a test pilot with Glosters and invented a new aerobatic manoeuvre, the Cartwheel, emigrated to Canada and test flew the CF100 and the mighty Arrow.

The world of aviation is poorer for his passing.

Sad news. I still can't respect these guys enough for what they did over Southern England all those years ago.

Not sure if I'm remembering correctly but didn't he write a book?

What a pity ‘Zura’ never got the opportunity to demonstrate
the Arrow at Farnborough, as he did the Gloster GAF/PV and Avro Canada CF-100.

2004 February 11


Jan Zurakowski, Avro Arrow pilot

Janusz Zurakowski, 89

Jan Zurakowski, first test pilot of Avro Arrow aircraft, dies at age 89

For those on the other side of the pond that do not know what the magnificent AVRO ARROW was (if there is somebody that do not know) I am posting a link to a page full of Avro Arrow links.

CF 105 - AVRO ARROW

Jan was of a similar age and in the mould of John Cunningham and Roland Beamont and others who plied their trade in days when it was all a lot harder as designers knew so much less.

I hope they have met up again.

John, might it be possible to perform something akin to the 'Zurabatic cartwheel' in a Harrier?

Jan Zurakowski
 

I was lucky enough to be an apprentice at Glosters in their heyday, when so many well-known pilots were test pilots with the firm. I think I am right in belieiving that Zura only did his cartwheel in the GA Meteor as he needed the mass weight of the rockets it the wing-tips.

Aerohack

You ask a simple question so I will give a simple answer - 'No'

Frustrating answer eh?

As a mere fishead i am not sure that I am entitled to reply to this but it is my understanding that JZ's mount was beefed up somewhat, like a railway line fore and aft and another athwartships (wingtip to wingtip for any c*a*s who aren't familiar with the terminology) as a result of which a number of "wizard prang, what ho! let's go and do it ! " light blues blasted off into the wide blue yonder, applied full go on one, idle on t'other , a bootfull of rudder and wondered why it fell apart. Right or wrong?

Sailor, the one I tried it on didn't fall apart. :)

Then you fled to the Shaky Isles Henry?:p