Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow
Canada's Greatest Interceptor
Photo from Canadian Department of Defence Homepage
In April 1953 the Royal Canadian Air Force released specifiacations for a supersonic fighter interceptor. Avro Canada was ordered to develop the not only the airframe, but the engines, the weaponery, and the fire control system were all to be developed by Avro Canada. What is said to be the greatest day in Canada's aircraft industry was the rollout of the preproduction CF-105 on October 4, 1957 before 12 000 people. The Arvo CF-105 Arrow was designed to replace the earlier CF-100 Canuck in the interception role. For a long time the CF-105 project was overshadowed by the opinion in the Canadian government that long range guided surface to air missiles were more cost-effective and acted as a better deterent than an extremely costly fighter project. On February 20, 1959 the John Diefenbaker's Conservative government discontinued funding to the Arrow project. This day was infamously known as Black Friday, the day 15 000 Avro employees lost their jobs.
Specifications
(Data for CF-105)
Origin: Avro Canada Ltd.
Type: Interceptor
Crew: 2
Powerplant: Two Orenda Iroquois axial flow afterburning turbojets each delivering 11 791 kg (26 000 lbs) of thrust
Dimensions
Span: 15.2 m (50')
Height: 6.5 m (21' 3")
Length: 26.1 m (85' 6")
Weight: 28 319 kg (62 431 lbs)
Performance
Maximum Speed: 2 453 kph (1 524 mph)
Cruising Speed: 1 128 kph (701 mph)
Climb Rate: 15 240 m (50 000 feet)/4 min 24 sec
Range: 425 km (264 miles)
Service Ceiling: 17 830 metres (58 500 feet)
Armament
Canadian Developed Sparrow II missile system
First Flight: March 25, 1958
User(s): PROGRAM CANCELLED (RCAF intended)
Production: 6
Unit Cost: 7 800 000 -- 1959 $CAN
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