Mitchieville Remembers the Avro Arrow

She would be 50 years old today:



Fifty years ago today Canada stood at the forefront of the aviation world. The Avro CF-105 Arrow was the fastest and most technologically advanced fighter-interceptor in the world. Her delta wing design took away the breath of the nation. Rather disappointingly for the engineers and pilots of the project it was on this same day that the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into space. While Canada was looking at a jet in Malton, the world was looking up at the stars.

The list of technological first’s that this plane introduced to the world fills a page (see the list below the Arrow specs). For two years she was the pride of the nation. At three-quarters thrust in test flights the CF-105 nearly hit MACH 2. Sighting cost over-runs and little interest from international buyers the Government of Canada cancelled the CF-105 project in 1959.

The cancellation of the Arrow in 1959 and the order to destroy of all the test aircraft was a huge blow the Canadian aeronautics industry. Just as significant was the blow to the national psyche. The cancellation of the Arrow has been a weight on the heart of many Canadians. If out of something bad something good can come about then this would be true for the CF-105 project. From Wikipedia:

"Following the Canadian government's cancellation of the Avro Arrow project in 1959, CF-105 Chief Aerodynamicist Jim Chamberlin led a team of 25 engineers to NASA's Space Task Group to become lead engineers, program managers, and heads of engineering in NASA's manned space programs—Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. This team would eventually grow to 32 Avro engineers and technicians…, Jim Floyd (whose design studies at Hawker Siddeley (Avro Aircraft's UK parent) on the HSA.1000 SST design studies were ultimately influential in the design of the Concorde).”

Most Canadian’s have come to accept that Canada loss was the world’s gain. Fairly or not, many see the Avro Arrow cancellation as the embodiment of a national dream crushed by a cruel government. The great John Diefebaker, never shy to controversy, defended his decision which can be seen here at the CBC Archives (the archives have a wealth of good stuff there folks, I highly recommend).

Today the few remaining pieces of the CF-105 project can be seen at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa. A myth survives that one of the aircraft escaped the cutting torches and has been hidden from the Government every since (I say she’s hiding in the Madawaska Valley). In reality the Avro Arrow only survives in memory and on the web. This site is arguably the best.