Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Profile of Members
Birth: August 7, 1923
Birthplace: Pinsk, Poland
Death: October 28, 1991
Inducted: 2003"His vision of the needs of the people in a large, remote and challenging area of Canada, along with his persistence, ability, courage and dedication to carry out his dream contributed immensely to the betterment of life at isolated communities in the Mackenzie Delta, and resulted in the advancement of aviation in Canada."
Mr. Zubko dedicated himself to serving the North, providing the first commercial air service (Class IV) north of the Arctic Circle. His charter service vastly improved the lives of people living along the Mackenzie Delta and along the Arctic Coast. It provided a vital link between these isolated communities and the world. In 1995 his contribution to the North was recognized when the airport at Inuvik was renamed in his honour.
Janusz Zurakowski
Birth: September 12, 1914
Birthplace: Ryzawka, Russia
Death: February 9, 2004
Inducted: 1974
"The dedication of his aeronautical skills to the successful flight testing of Canada's first supersonic aircraft resulted in outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation."
Janusz Zurakowski attended high school in Poland where he learned to fly gliders and later joined the Polish Air Force in 1934. At the outbreak of WWII he was an instructor in a Polish fighter squadron. He escaped to England in 1939 and flew with Nos. 234 and 609 Squadrons, RAF. In 1945 he was posted to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment where he tested Britain's first jet fighter, the Meteor. During his career Zurakowski also demonstrated a new air stunt called the "Zurabatic Cartwheel" and established a new air speed record in 1950 between London-Copenhagen-London. He emigrated to Canada in 1952 to join Avro Aircraft Limited at Toronto as chief development pilot. In this position, he test flew the CF-100 aircraft and completed the first supersonic flight of the Avro Arrow.© Copyright in the portrait drawings of the honoured members of the Aviation Hall of Fame, which were prepared by Mrs. I. Coucill are the property of Mrs. Coucill.