Avro Arrow test models found
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Avro Arrow test models found
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A test model has been located
Avro Arrow models search team says 'there are more jets out there than originally thought' - Toronto - CBC News
Avro Arrow models search team says 'there are more jets out there than originally thought'
Search team showed results of underwater sonar search that began in July
By Alexandra Sienkiewicz, CBC News Posted: Sep 08, 2017 10:20 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 08, 2017 4:39 PM ET
Nearly 60 years after the Avro Arrow was scrapped amid controversy, members of the public got a first look at images of one of the test models recently found in the depths of Lake Ontario.
Members of the Raise the Arrow expedition unveiled still photographs and underwater video from a remote-operated vehicle on Friday morning in Toronto, confirming the discovery of the free-flight model.
In addition, the team announced what comes as a surprise to many Arrow enthusiasts — "there are more jets out there than originally thought," said John Burzynski, the expedition leader.
He called the finding a "discovery within a discovery" since "this was a secret program that no one knew was going on when it was going on, unfortunately a lot of the records are partial."
The additional models were described as very early iterations which were used as "test tracking vehicles." They may not have had all the characteristics of the Avro Arrow, as they were mainly used to test equipment, said Dr. Richard Mayne, a historian with the Royal Canadian Air Force. At this point, the team only knows that several were tested.
Due to poor weather conditions, the team has only had a "solid two weeks" of search since the expedition was announced in July, said David Shea, vice-president of engineering at Kraken Sonar, the Newfoundland and Labrador company aiding with the search.
That said, the lake bed — consisting largely of a rocky bottom — has helped in the search because "they didn't sink into the mud ... what fell in the lake basically sits on the bottom of the lake," said Burzynski.
Before the end of the season, the team plans to send divers into the lake to do a reconnaissance dive, said Scarlett Janusas, the expedition archeologist. The models were found between "30 metres and about 60 metres deep," added Burzynski.
"We've been given permission to remove some of the zebra mussels, so we may be able to find out exactly which model it is we're looking at," said Janusas.
She added the caveat was as the season progresses, conditions may get too rough to bring the model up to the surface.
"But when we are ready, we will be doing some excavation around the model," said Janusas. That procedure would involve digging around the Avro model, which is upside down, and building a cradle for it, to assure it won't break on ascent.
Popular jet scrapped in 1959
The Arrow, a sleek jet interceptor developed in Malton, Ont., in the 1950s, had the potential to propel Canada to the forefront in military aviation. The program was abruptly cancelled in 1959 by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, resulting in 30,000 employees losing their jobs. As well, the planes were ordered to be destroyed.
It's believed that nine three-metre-long, or one-eighth scale, models of the Arrow fitted with sensors were strapped onto rockets, and fired over the lake from Point Petre, near Prince Edward County more than 200 kilometres from Toronto.
New search launched in July
In July, what's believed to be the biggest search of its kind for the models was launched — with the help of equipment that assisted the successful Franklin Expedition in 2016. The mission is a collaborative effort by several private companies in assistance with the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Military Institute.
Kraken Sonar Systems, which was awarded a $500,000 contract to aid with the search, including deploying its state-of-the-art ThunderFish underwater vehicle and AquaPix sonar system to capture high-quality images of the lake bed.
In July, the team announced the search grid would cover water ranging in depth from five metres closer to shore and 100 metres farther out in the lake. The mission was set to run the underwater sonar equipment for eight hours a day, after which the data was downloaded and analyzed by a team of scientists that also included archeologists.
Their original goal was to search an area about half the size of Vancouver, or 64 square kilometres.
A 1980 CBC report said that after the destruction of the existing Arrow planes — created based on the models now in Lake Ontario — pieces were sold to a Hamilton junk dealer, for 6.5 cents per pound. At 67,000 pounds, a scrapped Arrow would have cost $4,355.
A test model has been located
Avro Arrow models search team says 'there are more jets out there than originally thought' - Toronto - CBC News
Avro Arrow models search team says 'there are more jets out there than originally thought'
Search team showed results of underwater sonar search that began in July
By Alexandra Sienkiewicz, CBC News Posted: Sep 08, 2017 10:20 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 08, 2017 4:39 PM ET
Nearly 60 years after the Avro Arrow was scrapped amid controversy, members of the public got a first look at images of one of the test models recently found in the depths of Lake Ontario.
Members of the Raise the Arrow expedition unveiled still photographs and underwater video from a remote-operated vehicle on Friday morning in Toronto, confirming the discovery of the free-flight model.
In addition, the team announced what comes as a surprise to many Arrow enthusiasts — "there are more jets out there than originally thought," said John Burzynski, the expedition leader.
He called the finding a "discovery within a discovery" since "this was a secret program that no one knew was going on when it was going on, unfortunately a lot of the records are partial."
The additional models were described as very early iterations which were used as "test tracking vehicles." They may not have had all the characteristics of the Avro Arrow, as they were mainly used to test equipment, said Dr. Richard Mayne, a historian with the Royal Canadian Air Force. At this point, the team only knows that several were tested.
Due to poor weather conditions, the team has only had a "solid two weeks" of search since the expedition was announced in July, said David Shea, vice-president of engineering at Kraken Sonar, the Newfoundland and Labrador company aiding with the search.
That said, the lake bed — consisting largely of a rocky bottom — has helped in the search because "they didn't sink into the mud ... what fell in the lake basically sits on the bottom of the lake," said Burzynski.
Before the end of the season, the team plans to send divers into the lake to do a reconnaissance dive, said Scarlett Janusas, the expedition archeologist. The models were found between "30 metres and about 60 metres deep," added Burzynski.
"We've been given permission to remove some of the zebra mussels, so we may be able to find out exactly which model it is we're looking at," said Janusas.
She added the caveat was as the season progresses, conditions may get too rough to bring the model up to the surface.
"But when we are ready, we will be doing some excavation around the model," said Janusas. That procedure would involve digging around the Avro model, which is upside down, and building a cradle for it, to assure it won't break on ascent.
Popular jet scrapped in 1959
The Arrow, a sleek jet interceptor developed in Malton, Ont., in the 1950s, had the potential to propel Canada to the forefront in military aviation. The program was abruptly cancelled in 1959 by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, resulting in 30,000 employees losing their jobs. As well, the planes were ordered to be destroyed.
It's believed that nine three-metre-long, or one-eighth scale, models of the Arrow fitted with sensors were strapped onto rockets, and fired over the lake from Point Petre, near Prince Edward County more than 200 kilometres from Toronto.
New search launched in July
In July, what's believed to be the biggest search of its kind for the models was launched — with the help of equipment that assisted the successful Franklin Expedition in 2016. The mission is a collaborative effort by several private companies in assistance with the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Military Institute.
Kraken Sonar Systems, which was awarded a $500,000 contract to aid with the search, including deploying its state-of-the-art ThunderFish underwater vehicle and AquaPix sonar system to capture high-quality images of the lake bed.
In July, the team announced the search grid would cover water ranging in depth from five metres closer to shore and 100 metres farther out in the lake. The mission was set to run the underwater sonar equipment for eight hours a day, after which the data was downloaded and analyzed by a team of scientists that also included archeologists.
Their original goal was to search an area about half the size of Vancouver, or 64 square kilometres.
A 1980 CBC report said that after the destruction of the existing Arrow planes — created based on the models now in Lake Ontario — pieces were sold to a Hamilton junk dealer, for 6.5 cents per pound. At 67,000 pounds, a scrapped Arrow would have cost $4,355.
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Ahh, The old Arrow.
A dark chapter in Canadian aviation history. The Yanks was terrified that Canada would sell this superior aircraft to NATO and other friendly nations.
AND Pentagons Wardesk, Canada (the second biggest after USSR) was afraid Canada would go to fare to the left. In which case an invasion was on the table, literary.
A superior Avro Arrow was ,,,,, Not allowed!
Can you imagine USA dictate this to France over a superior Mirage....?
Dont get me wrong, just trying to set things in perspective...!
It was such an absolute superior design it would have taken US well into the 80 to catch up.
Canada has so much to be proud of today and historically.
Go out and dig up that Arrow and show Your kids that Canada did!
Recommended reading: There never was an Arrow.
Keep us updated
Friendly Regards
Cpt B
A dark chapter in Canadian aviation history. The Yanks was terrified that Canada would sell this superior aircraft to NATO and other friendly nations.
AND Pentagons Wardesk, Canada (the second biggest after USSR) was afraid Canada would go to fare to the left. In which case an invasion was on the table, literary.
A superior Avro Arrow was ,,,,, Not allowed!
Can you imagine USA dictate this to France over a superior Mirage....?
Dont get me wrong, just trying to set things in perspective...!
It was such an absolute superior design it would have taken US well into the 80 to catch up.
Canada has so much to be proud of today and historically.
Go out and dig up that Arrow and show Your kids that Canada did!
Recommended reading: There never was an Arrow.
Keep us updated
Friendly Regards
Cpt B
Amazing aircraft. Indeed.
Wasn´t it basically down to finance? Just like the TSR2? Two superb aircraft which neither country could really afford in meaningful numbers on its own. What I never understand, why wasn´t there more cooperation between NATO partners in those days? Was the US aerospace industry so almighty?
Wasn´t it basically down to finance? Just like the TSR2? Two superb aircraft which neither country could really afford in meaningful numbers on its own. What I never understand, why wasn´t there more cooperation between NATO partners in those days? Was the US aerospace industry so almighty?
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Zomby
A bit to late to invade my vocabulary I am afraid.
Anyway, Pentagons Canadian Wardesk had the invasion plans for Canada ready the second You went communist.
What we did in Europe was one thing, but a communist Canada, never!
The Bomark was a joke and the Voodoo was not much better. But now Canada depended on US. Perfect. I forget were the DEW.line fits in to the picture at this point. But clearly US needed a loyal, dependent no-communist Canada. McCharty was dead but his spirit was not.
I claim the US was instrumental or catalytic to shutting down the Arrow.
Hard to prove.
But as more secret files are opened and researched done, we shall see!
I find it hard to grasp that a over-performing ,ready for production aircraft was cancelled and literally axed the next day.
The fact that a few months later, Canada and USA signed an agreement that Canada should never embark on big military project alone, is a hint.
How am I doing so fare Z?
Cheers
Anyway, Pentagons Canadian Wardesk had the invasion plans for Canada ready the second You went communist.
What we did in Europe was one thing, but a communist Canada, never!
The Bomark was a joke and the Voodoo was not much better. But now Canada depended on US. Perfect. I forget were the DEW.line fits in to the picture at this point. But clearly US needed a loyal, dependent no-communist Canada. McCharty was dead but his spirit was not.
I claim the US was instrumental or catalytic to shutting down the Arrow.
Hard to prove.
But as more secret files are opened and researched done, we shall see!
I find it hard to grasp that a over-performing ,ready for production aircraft was cancelled and literally axed the next day.
The fact that a few months later, Canada and USA signed an agreement that Canada should never embark on big military project alone, is a hint.
How am I doing so fare Z?
Cheers
BluSdUp is actually correct, the US did have an entire war plan drawn up to invade Canada. The plans preceded the Arrow but they exist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Plan_Red
Canada also had plans to repel that invasion and even invade the northern US as part of that defence. There's a lovely documentary about it on youtube... right here.
It is also true that the Arrow program was shut down and destroyed under massive pressure from the US government and our spineless Prime Minister gave into that pressure... and we bought subsonic jets and Bomarc missiles from the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Plan_Red
Canada also had plans to repel that invasion and even invade the northern US as part of that defence. There's a lovely documentary about it on youtube... right here.
It is also true that the Arrow program was shut down and destroyed under massive pressure from the US government and our spineless Prime Minister gave into that pressure... and we bought subsonic jets and Bomarc missiles from the US.
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Zomby
No!
Dude, chill.
You have nothing to contribute with .
Except spellcheck, eh. Eh!
No!
Dude, chill.
You have nothing to contribute with .
Except spellcheck, eh. Eh!
Last edited by BluSdUp; 10th Sep 2017 at 15:10. Reason: response to post nr 7
And it is also true that the threat shifted from bombers to ICBMs, thereby rendering manned interceptor aircraft useless. But we don't want to talk about that, do we?
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Zomby
Ah, but we do.
We are talking about a historic and technical opportunity squandered away.
And by the way your last argument is false AND a direct quote of Your dear Diefenbaker.
Khrushchev also lied: We are churning out ICBM like hot dogs.
The ICBM was for full out Atomic war.
What the west desperately needed was a capable interceptor and with the new Canadian engines it would have been a Russkie Killer.
Costly yes , but the most expensive stuff was already payed : testing and tooling.
We are talking about a historic and technical opportunity squandered away.
And by the way your last argument is false AND a direct quote of Your dear Diefenbaker.
Khrushchev also lied: We are churning out ICBM like hot dogs.
The ICBM was for full out Atomic war.
What the west desperately needed was a capable interceptor and with the new Canadian engines it would have been a Russkie Killer.
Costly yes , but the most expensive stuff was already payed : testing and tooling.
The US was defending it's arms building and exporting business. The Arrow would have made Canada a major arms exporter as customers were lined up to buy the first fly-by-wire Mach 3+ interceptor. Even as the program was shut down, other countries were offering to buy the project and prototypes from us but we cut them into scrap and burned the designs. This stuff is pretty well known and extensively written about.
By fools such as yourself. The Arrow was built as a supersonic interceptor specifically designed to shoot down nuclear armed Soviet bombers.
Since there is zero possibility of a Soviet attack being conducted by bombers, then as now, the Arrow's mission ceased to exist, and it was pointless to continue further development. Period.
Since there is zero possibility of a Soviet attack being conducted by bombers, then as now, the Arrow's mission ceased to exist, and it was pointless to continue further development. Period.
Thread Starter
Good Evening Zombywof:
Based on your extensive analytical response why was the F-35 built any other fighter post Avro Arrow?
Remember the Arrow did have a very large weapons bay as well.
Based on your extensive analytical response why was the F-35 built any other fighter post Avro Arrow?
Remember the Arrow did have a very large weapons bay as well.
Um, can you possibly rephrase that in English so it makes sense?
Edit: I'm going to assume you skipped an "or" there.
Now here's my question for you... why would Canada need the F-35, or for that matter any fighter in 2017? There's only one reason Canada has fighters at all: comittment to NATO. Fighters are completely useless for the defence of the Canadian homeland.
Now let's look again at the function of the Arrow. Shooting down Soviet bombers. It became clear back in the day that bombers were not going to be used in a nuclear world. Why would you spend millions of dollars and countless development hours on something that was already obsolete?
Edit: I'm going to assume you skipped an "or" there.
Now here's my question for you... why would Canada need the F-35, or for that matter any fighter in 2017? There's only one reason Canada has fighters at all: comittment to NATO. Fighters are completely useless for the defence of the Canadian homeland.
Now let's look again at the function of the Arrow. Shooting down Soviet bombers. It became clear back in the day that bombers were not going to be used in a nuclear world. Why would you spend millions of dollars and countless development hours on something that was already obsolete?
Last edited by Zombywoof; 11th Sep 2017 at 01:14.
Now consider this: my name's Dmitry, and I command a Russian submarine. I am currently cruising off the coast of Newfoundland. If I receive the order, I will press a button and within 20 minutes the following Canadian cities will cease to exist:
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
I would like to know how your Arrow will protect you from me.
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
I would like to know how your Arrow will protect you from me.
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The Arrow was built as a supersonic interceptor specifically designed to shoot down nuclear armed Soviet bombers.
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Dimitry ak Zomby
If you are of the coast of Newfoundland in you missile boomer you have company.
I cant tell you what the standing orders was,but that would be treason.
One thing fore sure, you would never get in a position to fire anything.
Norway, SOSUS and NATO tracked every single missile sub that went west from Kola. I worked at NATO HQ at SACLANT REPEUR in mid 80 and know a thing or two about these matters. I trust that you brother Igor in the Pacific was tracked by the US NAVY and Canada any time he left shore.
Now, with regards to the potential for the Arrow , it was huge.
NATO used the F4 and F104 for ground attack and it ended in tears with the F104 due to the small wing and limited maneuverability at low level.
Looking at all the wars after 1959 that has used Fighter bombers and interceptors for all sorts of work they were not specifically designed for I am sure the Arrow would have been a success.
The Yanks new it and did not let it happen.
It is the most odd program cancellation in military history.
Oh and one thing Zomby, please do not call anyone a fool, OK!
Peace and love
Cpt B
I cant tell you what the standing orders was,but that would be treason.
One thing fore sure, you would never get in a position to fire anything.
Norway, SOSUS and NATO tracked every single missile sub that went west from Kola. I worked at NATO HQ at SACLANT REPEUR in mid 80 and know a thing or two about these matters. I trust that you brother Igor in the Pacific was tracked by the US NAVY and Canada any time he left shore.
Now, with regards to the potential for the Arrow , it was huge.
NATO used the F4 and F104 for ground attack and it ended in tears with the F104 due to the small wing and limited maneuverability at low level.
Looking at all the wars after 1959 that has used Fighter bombers and interceptors for all sorts of work they were not specifically designed for I am sure the Arrow would have been a success.
The Yanks new it and did not let it happen.
It is the most odd program cancellation in military history.
Oh and one thing Zomby, please do not call anyone a fool, OK!
Peace and love
Cpt B
Thread Starter
Good Morning BluSdUp:
Thank you for your post as it confirmed things that friends told me in a "limited" fashion when I worked with them from the Argus to the Aurora.
Last night I was trying to comment on posting by Zombywoof when my Ipad Pro was about shut down due to a low battery and I hit send before it ran out of power.
When I was reading some of his postings I went a "tad" negative and violated my personal philosophy of "comfort of opinion versus discomfort of thought".
Thank you for your service to our country
Thank you for your post as it confirmed things that friends told me in a "limited" fashion when I worked with them from the Argus to the Aurora.
Last night I was trying to comment on posting by Zombywoof when my Ipad Pro was about shut down due to a low battery and I hit send before it ran out of power.
When I was reading some of his postings I went a "tad" negative and violated my personal philosophy of "comfort of opinion versus discomfort of thought".
Thank you for your service to our country
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a330
Thank you ,Sir.
And a great thanks to You and Canada.
Google : Little Norway.
During the WWII the RNAF did training on Toronto Island until it was moved to Muskoka under a Lend Lease agreement.
Advanced training out west on the Harward. Later NATO training in Gimli with 120 T-33.
Canada play a absolute critical role in NATO, with the Aurora at one point you were the best. You would come over and find stuff we could not with the P3-Orion.And we were second only to Canada.
At one point you even found some stuff that you were not supposed to find!
Anyway,Between Norway Island and Canada there was not much moving that was not detected.
Just about every new USSR aircraft was intercepted by RNAF as they came out from Kola.
How they would have loved the Arrow full of missiles if it one day went hot.
Finaly
Mostly Harmless:
Fantastic video, what a gang.
With regards to FBV on the Arrow , are we talking some basic stabilization system for the handling of of the delta wing.
Regards
Cpt B
And a great thanks to You and Canada.
Google : Little Norway.
During the WWII the RNAF did training on Toronto Island until it was moved to Muskoka under a Lend Lease agreement.
Advanced training out west on the Harward. Later NATO training in Gimli with 120 T-33.
Canada play a absolute critical role in NATO, with the Aurora at one point you were the best. You would come over and find stuff we could not with the P3-Orion.And we were second only to Canada.
At one point you even found some stuff that you were not supposed to find!
Anyway,Between Norway Island and Canada there was not much moving that was not detected.
Just about every new USSR aircraft was intercepted by RNAF as they came out from Kola.
How they would have loved the Arrow full of missiles if it one day went hot.
Finaly
Mostly Harmless:
Fantastic video, what a gang.
With regards to FBV on the Arrow , are we talking some basic stabilization system for the handling of of the delta wing.
Regards
Cpt B