CF-100 Accident
Avro Canada test pilot Jan Zurakowski escaped from a CF-100 all-weather fighter on August 24th when the machine caught fire over Toronto after what is described as an explosion. His flight observer, John Hiebert, is said to have fatally delayed his bale-out, having insisted on "throwing some secret equipment overboard" when the fire occurred. This equipment was recovered later. The accident, and Zurakowski's parachute descent, was witnessed by thousands of people, and a delegation is said to have thanked him for steering the aircraft away from populated areas.
Polish Air Day
Poland celebrated her air day with displays in the main cities and towns on August 22nd. General Jan Turkiel, C-in-C of the Polish Air Force, claimed that "together with the Polish Army, the Polish People's Air Force has grown in strength and raised its battle preparedness." He thanked the Soviet Air Force for its aid and training Polish airmen, and then went on to claim that the Government is doing everything it can to promote the Polish aircraft industry. A broadcast by Major General of the Polish Air Force Kadazanowicz (who, like the C-in-C., is a Russian citizen in Polish uniform) claimed that "never before had Poland such a strong air force as today," and that "never before has the Polish Air Force had such excellent, up-to-date equipment."
Air Racing Champion
By virtue of her victory last Saturday in the Goodyear Trophy Race, Miss Freydis Leaf becomes British Air Racing Champion for 1954 - and the first woman to hold the title. Before the event she held 56 points and her nearest challenger was Nat Somers, with 50 points; in Saturday's race the latter pilot was placed fifth, so Miss Leaf gained possession of the championship by a comfortable margin; in the final marking she had 78 points against her runner-up's 64.
US Strikes
The strike of American Airlines' pilots, which began on July 30th, was settled on August 22nd. Under the terms of the settlement, the company will continue to operate its DC-7 non-stop transcontinental services; but its contract with the Air Line Pilots' Association will be amended to provide that crews "will not be assigned to fly more than eight scheduled hours on flights with one or more intermediate stops."
Source: Flight International
