Avro Arrow (aircraft)
The Avro Arrow (CF-105) was a Canadian jet interceptor developed in the 1950s to meet the Royal Canadian Air Force's requirements for a sophisticated aircraft capable of flying at twice the speed of sound and reaching an operational ceiling of 58,000 feet. Designed by Avro Canada, the Arrow featured a distinctive delta-wing configuration and was powered by twin turbojet engines. Its first test flight on March 25, 1958, garnered significant attention for its advanced capabilities and positioned Canada as a leader in military aircraft design. However, by 1959, the project faced criticism regarding its high costs, leading Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker to cancel the program and order the destruction of the prototypes. This decision not only deprived Canada of a potentially groundbreaking aircraft but also influenced public perception of Diefenbaker's defense policies and contributed to his political downfall. Ultimately, the cancellation forced Canada to rely on American defense solutions, impacting its military autonomy in the Cold War context. The Avro Arrow remains a significant part of Canadian aviation history and national pride.
Avro Arrow (aircraft)
Identification Canadian-designed jet interceptor
Date Test-flown on March 25, 1958
The Canadian-made Avro Arrow had the potential to become the greatest jet fighter-interceptor of its day, but the government of Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker canceled the project.
In April, 1953, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) established requirements for a new and highly sophisticated jet interceptor to replace its aging, subsonic CF-100 fighters. Such an aircraft would have to fly at twice the speed of sound, have an operational ceiling of 58,000 feet, and employ state-of-the-art missiles and fire-control systems to facilitate its role as a bomber destroyer. An estimated six hundred machines were considered necessary to protect North America from attack by Soviet aircraft flying over the North Pole.
The RCAF established rigid specifications for the project, and by 1957, the firm of Avro Canada had finalized design of the CF-105, unofficially known as the Arrow. The Arrow was a large delta-winged fighter, powered by twin turbojet engines. The first Arrow was test-flown on March 25, 1958, and it stunned the aviation world with its many sterling qualities. In fact, this aircraft placed Canada at the forefront of military aircraft design and was considered a source of national pride. However, the plane also experienced problems and was viewed by the Conservative government of Prime MinisterJohn G. Diefenbaker as prohibitively expensive. On February 20, 1959, Diefenbaker summarily canceled the entire project and ordered the five prototypes destroyed.
Impact
Beyond depriving Canada of one of the world’s great aircraft, the Arrow’s demise solidified perceptions that Diefenbaker was soft on defense matters and contributed to his eventual defeat at the polls. Moreover, despite the Diefenbaker administration’s attempts to distance Canada from the foreign policies of the United States, the cancellation of the Avro Arrow meant that Canada was left to rely on American-built Bomarc surface-to-air missiles, a path which ultimately tied Canada more closely to its neighbor.
Bibliography
Campagna, Palmiro. Requiem for a Giant: A. V. Roe and the Avro Arrow. Toronto: Dundurn Group, 2003. An excellent discussion of political factors leading to the aircraft’s cancellation.
Peden, Murray. Fall of an Arrow. Toronto: Stoddert, 2001. Well-illustrated with a wealth of technical and aeronautical descriptions.