arrow canada arrow delta winged aircraft designed built arrow considered advanced technical aerodynamic achievement canadian aviation industry held promise near speeds altitudes feet intended serve primary 1960s arrow culmination series design studies begun examining improved versions canada considerable study selected dramatically powerful design development began march intended built directly production line traditional hand built prototype phase rolled public october day launch testing began march design quickly demonstrated excellent handling overall performance reaching powered whitney completed lighter powerful engine soon ready testing ready taxi testing preparation flight acceptance tests pilots early february development arrow engines abruptly halted project review taken place months later assembly line plans existing engines ordered destroyed cancellation topic considerable political controversy time subsequent destruction aircraft production remains topic debate historians industry action effectively business highly skilled engineering production personnel scattered design development background post second world war period soviet_union began developing capable fleet long range bombers ability deliver nuclear weapons north_america europe main threat principally high speed high altitude bombing runs launched soviet_union travelling arctic military bases built industrial centres canada united_states counter threat western countries undertook development engage destroy bombers reached targets set subsidiary initially handling repair maintenance work aircraft ontario airport today known year company began design canada jet fighter weather underwent lengthy troubled prototype stage entering service seven years later went enduring aircraft class serving variety roles recognizing delays affected development deployment affect successor fact soviets working newer jet powered bombers render ineffective began looking missile armed replacement entered service march submitted higher speeds engineering considering issues point flight works different fashion presents number new problems critical surprising sudden onset new form drag known wave drag effects wave drag strong engines era provide power overcome leading concept sound barrier german research second world war shown onset wave drag greatly reduced varied gradually possible suggested use thinner longer chord designers aircraft designs impractical left little internal room wing armament fuel discovered possible trick behaviour conventional thicker swept sharp angle creating swept wing provided advantages thinner retaining internal space needed strength fuel storage advantage wings clear shock wave generated nose aircraft fighter project postwar era immediately applied concept started appearing production fighters late 1940s engineers explored swept wing tail modifications known proceeded wooden mock stage offered improved performance abilities dive basic continued improve period advantages continually eroded broke sound barrier december interest waned delta wings solution high speed problem delta wing delta wing advantages swept wing terms performance offered internal room overall surface area provided room fuel important consideration given inefficient early jet engines era large wing area provided ample lift high altitudes delta wing enabled slower landings swept wings certain conditions design increased drag lower speeds altitudes especially higher drag maneuvering role minor concerns aircraft spending time flying straight lines high altitudes speeds proposals based delta wing resulted versions design known single engine twin engined designs similar low mounted delta wing primary advantages larger overall size offered larger internal weapons bay time cutting edge feature fighter gave twin engine reliability proposals submitted june air intensive discussions examined wide range alternative sizes configurations culminating specification air april air called specifically crew twin engines range nautical miles normal low speed mission nmi high speed interception mission specified operation runway cruising speed altitude turns loss speed altitude specification required minutes starting aircraft engines reaching altitude turn time ground minutes team led visited aircraft producers surveyed british french manufacturers concluding existing planned aircraft fulfill requirements submitted modified design essentially man version change shoulder mounted wing allowed rapid access aircraft weapons bay engines new design allowed wing built single structure sitting upper fuselage construction improving strength wing design required long main landing gear fit thin delta wing presenting engineering challenge different wing sizes outlined report ranging sized version eventually selected engines considered aircraft wright built version engines armament stored large internal bay located belly position taking aircraft fuselage wide variety weapons deployed bay guided missile air air missile general purpose bombs velvet glove radar guided missile development time believed unsuitable speeds lacked development potential consequently work project cancelled july proposal accepted given ahead start design study project december million provided start flight modelling project limited scope introduction soviet jet bomber soviet_union testing hydrogen bomb dramatically changed cold war priorities march contract upgraded million arrow flight test aircraft followed production engines fire control systems production order meet set decided arrow program adopt cook plan effectively eliminating prototype phase test constructed production changes incorporated testing continued production starting test program complete noted time risky approach decided technical risks involved save time programme pretend philosophy production type build outset cause lot problems engineering achieve objective order risks massive testing program started production drawings issued wind tunnel work began extensive computer simulation studies carried canada united_states sophisticated computer programs related program free flight models mounted solid fuel rocket launched point additional models launched facility virginia atlantic_ocean models aerodynamic drag stability testing flown maximum speed intentionally crashing water experiments showed need small number design changes mainly involving wing profile positioning improve high alpha performance leading edge wing especially outer sections dog tooth introduced control flow entire wing given slight negative helped control trim drag pitch area rule principle public applied design resulted changes including addition radar nose profile intake lips reducing cross area fuselage canopy aircraft measure fuselage limited largely area engines expensive widely difficult machine construction airframe fairly conventional semi frame multi wing arrow thin wing required aviation hydraulic system supply force control surfaces small rudimentary fly wire system employed pilot input detected series pressure sensitive stick signal sent electronic control operated hydraulic system flight controls resulted lack control feel control stick input connected hydraulic system variations pressure flight control surfaces normally felt pilot longer transmitted stick create sense feel electronic control box rapidly responded hydraulic pressure fluctuations triggered stick making slightly system called artificial feel program cancelled necessitating use backup wright engine instead engine cancelled leaving design engine point selected initial test flight models new engine developed production evaluating engineering mock ups scale wooden mock february demanded additional changes selecting advanced fire control system firing equally advanced united_states navy place falcon combination vocally objected grounds testing point falcon ready production nearly effective large saving cost proved problematic system ran lengthy period delays cancelled quickly brought continue program canada expressed grave concerns project added expense flight testing ahead production given marked took place october company planned capitalize event inviting guests occasion unfortunately media public attention arrow launch day engine slightly heavier required ballast placed nose return centre gravity correct position addition fire control system ready replaced ballast unused weapons bay loaded test equipment flew march chief development test pilot controls powered delivered months test flights limited proof concept assessing flight characteristics revealed design faults demonstrated excellent handling flight envelope large natural qualities delta wing responsibility attributed aircraft went flight seventh broke mph climbing speed achieved limits performance report public highest speed flight arrow reached steady level flight indicated number recorded dive estimates likely originated attempt compensate error expected diving flight major problems encountered initial testing phase minor issues landing gear flight control system problem partly tandem main landing gear narrow order fit wings leg shortened length rotated landing incident chain mechanism gear mark gear jammed resulting incomplete rotation second incident arrow november flight control system commanded landing resulting reduction weight gears reduced effective tire friction ultimately resulting brake subsequent gear collapse photograph taken incident proved flight control activation caused accident occasion test flight diverted occurred february crash landed toronto necessitating landing stability system required fine tuning aircraft use system kind problematic february aircraft completed majority company test program progressing acceptance trials political issues senior canadian military officials chiefs began question program chiefs staff army navy strongly opposed arrow substantial funds diverted air force chief staff backed right cancellation june governing liberals lost federal election government took power aircraft prospects began noticeably change campaigned platform conservatives claimed rampant liberal spending nonetheless parent company canada largest business enterprise primary interests rolling stock steel coal electronics aviation different companies banner august government signed north american air defense agreement united_states making canada partner american command control process completely air defence system sage project offered canada opportunity share sensitive information air defence north_america aspect sage system nuclear tipped anti aircraft missile led studies basing canada order push line north deployment found extremely costly missile expected cost million sage absorb million counting cost improvements radar projected raise canada defence spending according minister national defence defence missiles priority existence raised possibility attacks space year progressed word missile gap began spreading american brief meeting records concern canada afford defensive systems missiles manned bombers said canada afford arrow sage august requested cancellation arrow refused september recommended installation missile system accepted refused cancel entire arrow program wanted wait major review march cancelled system september efforts continue program cost sharing countries explored missile greater threat canada purchased lieu operational history foreign interest canada tried sell arrow britain aircraft industry countries considered national interest purchase foreign designs rare era arrow far heavy high speed project end cancellation onwards shown considerable interest arrow april recommended purchase arrows raf serve alongside mixed power instead thin wing study projected power plants raf arrow lbf thrust dry lbf lbf thrust dry lbf lbf thrust dry lbf arrow canada setting production line studied unit price aircraft built estimated production run aircraft opposed estimate aircraft thin wing serve project came fruition arrow likely reach raf little point proceeding infamous defence white paper described biggest change military policy normal times led cancellation british manned fighter aircraft development completely curtailed likelihood purchase january final answer britain countered offer sell canada acting media speculation engine program jeopardy cancelled french government original intention place major order engines bomber chose end negotiations october opted upgraded version indigenous instead explanation decision offered french government tried offer private venture american advanced designs republic north american development united_states_air_force cancelled early design mock phases added weight justification arrow president general manager promise supply free fire control system missiles allow free use flight test centre edwards cancellation arrow cancellation announced february day known black friday canadian aviation industry claimed decision based thorough examination threats defensive measures cost defensive systems decision immediately employees nearly employees supply chain outside suppliers work records management caught unprepared announcement government executives aware program jeopardy expected continue march review widely believed lead review prepared attempt world speed altitude records attempt provide completed arrows high speed test aircraft refused noting sufficient spare parts maintenance qualified pilots use similar project initiated resulted vice president engineering preparing ferry operation proposal like united_states realized aftermath months project cancellation aircraft engines production technical data ordered scrapped officially reason given destruction order cabinet chiefs staff destroy classified secret materials arrow programs action attributed fears soviet mole later confirmed degree archives rumours circulated world war ace headed ignored spirited arrows away saved rumours given life interview curtis asked directly true replied don want answer proceeded question wisdom printing story missing arrow wondered safe reveal existence surviving airframe years later existence wait years politically cause lot trouble legend prototypes remains intact following cancellation arrow project chief led team engineers nasa lead engineers program managers heads engineering nasa manned space programs projects mercury apollo team eventually grew engineers technicians canadians viewed brain drain united_states arrow team engineers south nasa flight dynamics officer later director networks space flight center flight director manager cancelled project director later chief engineering office technical assistant program engineers including found work united_states work undertaken floyd benefited research aircraft parent contributed programs transport design studies influential design obtained aircraft american designs originally rejected serve role originally intended arrow controversy surrounding acquisition canada acquiring nuclear weapons eventually contributed collapse government nearly connected programs destroyed cockpit nose gear arrow outer panels wings saved display ottawa alongside engine specifications comparable current offerings american soviet design time cancellation arrow considered aviation industry observer advanced aircraft world arrow cancellation eventually led end aircraft limited canada president general manager fired shortly afterward formally dissolved transferred assets newly formed subsidiary planning design flight test programme fighter way advanced fighters 1950s impressive successful aircraft history section currently display ottawa smuggled aircraft plant members detachment toronto resided years employed high altitude work commanding officer wing commander provides prologue aircraft day change government new chief air staff came inspect facilities programs lunch asked like special showed piece arrow cockpit section engine bits asked said hidden climate ottawa right arrange placed ottawa eventually bit history saved variants mark arrow mark initial version powered engines produced pounds force thrust development flight testing completed version fitted engines evaluated acceptance pilots test pilots new engines designed produce lbf fire control system terminated government september aircraft employ combination time cancellation entire program ready taxi trials expected break world speed record flew speed limited atmospheric heating according project engineer aluminum structure favoured good speeds greater number designs wide range advanced arrow variants development time project cancellation frequent mention arrow capable similar production version design studies greatly modified version arrow featuring revised engine extensive use carbon steel withstand airframe heating updated engines capable producing lbf increasing maximum weight flight ceiling context ongoing controversy surrounding lockheed martin lightning canadian alternative continued support troubled group individuals began lobbying ottawa consider domestic production updated version arrow modern materials engines keeping arrow proven basic design group feels modernized arrow perform speed range maximum altitude admitting arrow lacks stealth characteristics harper government publicly rejected bid saying redesigned arrow program risky long develop expensive arrow replica arrow built arrow production began building scale replica arrow approached producers arrow miniseries complete offer complete construction replica production miniseries public appearances air shows replica later donated alberta museum home town alberta temporary outdoor collection damaged wind storm repaired longer public display building scale manned high performance flying replica arrow officially known order demonstration aircraft construction began october fuselage completed passed inspection serial number powered pair arrow speed approximately knots range miles current projections final cost project approximately million dollars hoped ground tests start flight follow space museum located features size replica arrow built volunteers assistance local firms metal structure replica features authentic looking components including landing gear constructed original arrow primary landing gear sub contractor painted colours arrow arrow replica rolled media event september public display october commemorate original aircraft replica storage airport area displayed road actual aircraft built technology trade ran september october future plans replica remaining aircraft closed air museum seeking location near pearson international airport display time artifacts including partly restored bomber operators canada arrow cancelled entering service specifications data great book fighters canadian approach weather development arrow story arrow evolution extinction general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area root tip weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant dry thrust lbf thrust lbf performance maximum speed mph max recorded speed potential cruise speed mph combat radius service ceiling wing loading thrust weight loaded weight armament rockets nuclear rockets missiles falcon cancelled active guidance missiles cancelled fire control system notable appearances media broadcast miniseries arrow production combination archival film remote control flying models computer animation static ground flying sequences highly acclaimed receiving praise film historian employee winner numerous awards including year miniseries criticized drama style departing strict factual account continued accompanying dvd releases served controversy arrow cancellation introduce story new generation
Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow