Two sharp pointy things
 

I've just stumbled on this lovely photo, taken at Downsview, before Diefenbaker's appallingly vindictive actions.

The Silver Dart and the Avro Arrow.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fec3982d15.jpg

"Guys, you'll never guess what I saw in the parking lot today!"

It wasn't just Diefenbaker - the other Canadian armed forces also campaigned against it - presumably on the grounds it would eat the whole defence budget. Looking back you have to ask was there any chance that other countries would buy it - or buy it in significant enough quantities to bring down the unit cost?

It might have made it if it was built in the USA or France but I can't see anyone else being willing to back such a programme. The UK did the same with the TSR-2 a few years later of course

Here's an contemporaneous article about the Arrow cancellation. See page 50.

Air Pictorial Feb 1965

The late Randall Whitcombe wrote a lot about Canadian aviation, and the Arrow in articular. Th CF105 had massive potential, which seems to have been suppressed, as it upset people south of the US / Canada border. Lots of innuendo of under the counter bargaining et etc. any of his books is worthwhile reading. Sadly, he died suddenly a few years ago.......

The Canadians are building a 60% scale flying example of the Arrow.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....719488da93.jpg

Construction photos,

https://www.avromuseum.com/photos5.html

It'll probably get cancelled when almost complete.......

It's being built in a hangar at Springbank, west of Calgary. According to a gliding club friend who is involved, it will be powered by Learjet engines.

Even at 60%, its still pretty big for a homebuilt - over 50' long!