Zbigniew Burzyński

Biography

Zbigniew Burzyński was the son of Helena Jaźwiecka and Władysław Burzyński, a forestry engineer. Raised in a middle-class family, he attended high schools in Lwów, Vienna and Kraków, where he joined the Cadet Corps and in 1919 graduated. Then, he entered the Artillery School in Poznań, after this school, briefly serving in the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment in Nowy Targ.

On 1 May 1921 Burzyński was sent to a course of aeronautic observers at the Officers' Aeronautic School in Toruń. He completed it with honors and remained there as a lecturer, also was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He translated from French the handbook of the first Polish zeppelin and participated in its assembly as well as first flights. In the summer of 1922, he made the first balloon flight. Next year, he was promoted to Lieutenant.

In 1924 Burzyński received training at the balloon factory in the French town of Chalais-Meudon. After returning, he opened a shop in Legionowo, which produced fabrics for balloon bags. Under his command, first Polish balloons were made. He remained in Legionowo until 1937, being commandant of company of observatory balloons in the 2nd Balloon Battalion of the Polish Army. Also, in 1934 he was promoted to Captain. Furthermore, between 1937 and 1939 he completed the technical course for aviation officers in Warsaw, creating a prototype of the first Polish barrage balloon.

Burzyński also actively participated in ballooning tournaments. His first competition took place in September 1928, during the National Tournament of Balloons. Flying in Lwów, together with Franciszek Hynek, they finished first, crossing the distance of 380 km. Next year, flying in Wilno, he participated in international tournament in Poznań, but without success.

In 1932 Burzyński and Hynek were the first Polish crew to participate in the Gordon-Bennett Cup. Flying the Gdynia, they crossed 1075 kilometres from Basel to Bielany in 17 hours, with average speed of 63 km/h, which was the best speed of all 16 crews. On February 28, 1933 Burzyński and Hynek ascended in Toruń to the altitude of 9762 m, beating the record of Poland.

In the 1933 Gordon-Bennett Cup, which took place in United States, Burzyński and Hynek won the competition, flying in Kosciuszko the distance of 1361 km from Chicago to Aulmes in Canada in 39 hours and 39 minutes. Next year, in the Gordon-Bennett Cup in Poland, the Polish crew was second in Warszawa II. However, in September 1935, during another Gordon-Bennett Cup, Burzyński and W. Wysocki won, crossing in Polonia II 1650 kilometers from Warsaw to the town of Tishkino near Stalingrad in 57 hours and 54 minutes. During that flight, they also beat world records in length and time frame.

In the fall of 1938 Burzyński was planned to fly in the Gwiazda Polski, but the takeoff did not take place due to fire.

During the Polish September Campaign, Burzyński was caught by the Germans and kept in a POW camp from 6 October 1939 until 1 April 1945. In November of that year, he returned to Poland. In 1955 he graduated from the Warsaw Polytechnic, earning a diploma of engineer of mechanics. Also, he initiated recreation of ballooning in Poland as well as Czechoslovakia. He authored two books: Kosciuszko nad Ameryka (1934) and Balonem przez kontynenty (1956).