THE DEMISE OF THE AVRO ARROW

Size of the Avro Arrow

Comparing Plane Sizes

Their are many articles on Canada’s history and where Canada turned right when Canada should have turned left and the story of the Avro Arrow CF-105 Interceptor was one of those times.

Canada’s very own state of the art Avro Arrow CF-105 Supersonic Interceptor was the pride of all Canadian’s

There’s no shortage of books and material on the subject of the Canadian built Avro Arrow Fighter Jet Interceptor. But you would be hard-pressed to find any information on this engineering feet south of the border.

But this post is about the demise, the cancellation of the Avro Arrow program and why did it happen?

It was homegrown, born, built, and manufactured right here on Canadian soil. It was the pride of all Canadians citizens and the military elites.

The sudden cancelation of the Avro Arrow Interceptor in 1959 was and still is a big mystery then and today. Most articles on this “state of the art” Jet Fighter is fascinating reading and with many different authors perspective and conspiracies.

The demise of the Avro Arrow and this is my theory.

“What happened on Canada’s Black Friday?”

Just in case know body knows what this Canadian blogger is talking about, The CF-105 Interceptor was built in Canada to ward off the threat of a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union in the early 60s. It did the speed of Mach 2 and rumor has it, that with the new engines, it could reach Mach 3. After four where completed and airworthy, the project was suddenly, canceled by Canada’s lustiest leaders. But the question is always — why.

The demise of the Avro Arrow is still a mystery, why.

So now I’m reading the latest article with still no clear answer, why our former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker decided to lay off 15,000 of his countryman and— thousands more Canadians that were indirectly affected by his sudden decision. But all writers and historians agree on one major thing, and all wondered −− WHY?

Did our Prime Minister wake up in a bad mood, did he not get his breakfast on time. No BOOM-BOOM that night. What made him make such a drastic move that would affect so many people in his own country?

To know the answer, we have to think the way he thought, and the pressure he was under at the time. Through this series of three, hopefully, I will share my thinking on the demise of the Avro Arrow.

The Canadian people voted and trusted the Progressive Conservative party back then. The mainstream thinking and still today that, the elected politician, officials would have Canadians as their number one priority. Keeping Canadians and all of Canada in their best interest.

The sudden demise of the Avro Arrow is still a mystery today and has affected Canada’s growth in the aeronautics industry then and even up to today.

History might say that was not one of Canadian Prime Ministers Diefenbaker’s better moves.

Avro Arrow Untold StoryWhen Prime Minister John Diefenbaker finally decided to shut down the program, he kept his decision well hidden from everybody, and even his closest aides didn’t know. It was a top-secret to everybody until he announced in Parliament. Surprised by some and a disappointment by others.

Keeping this decision hidden from everybody does show a human nature side of him, he knew the consequences would be significant. Not to his wildest dreams, thinking it would affect Canadians 60 years later and up until today.

Conspiracy theorist believes the demise of the Avro Arrow Interceptor program that there was — something different going on.

So was this spontaneous thinking or was as theorist would believe he was strong-armed into canceling this state of the art airplane.

HE STOOD UP AND SUPPOSEDLY SAID.

As of today, I decided to “lay off 15,000”, I mean cancel the Avro Arrow Program. And laying off all our faithful workers in our aviation industry effective as of, NOW, as we speak, Disbanded all making of the Avro Arrow program, “we want it … GONE!”

Our fearless Government at the time could not have given this a long-term THOUGHT?

Please check out this YouTube video on the Avro Arrow.

The teletypes couldn’t print the news fast enough. In the factories at lightning speed, they got the news. The management was instructed by a higher-up to read this message out loud to the workers, so on October 14, 1959, “Black Friday,” it was said, effective immediately, send your workers home. Shut her down boys, take the rest of the day off, and don’t forget to take all your personals with you — just in case you don’t come back, “Which they didn’t.”

So, that day was labeled Black Friday by the unemployed Avro workers, Canada’s Aviation Industry, as we knew it was gone. And still today we have no aviation industry we can say is our own and that Canada could be proud of with the saying, Made in Canada, Eh.

But going back to Canada’s state of the art Avro Arrow CF-105, What made our Prime Minister do such a thing?

 Did this have anything to do with it?

The US under-handedly leaking to the press that they would not buy any of Canada’s “State of the art Interceptors” — could that have sealed the fate of the Avro Arrow CF-105 program. “The Domino Effect.”

At the time, publicly, it was well known that the Kennedy administration didn’t get along with, “As they put it, boring” Canadian Prime Minister,” but that couldn’t be a deciding factor or, did it have something to do with it? …  Eh

  • Did the US President John F Kennedy meddle in Canada’s affairs and elections and HAPPILY cause the cancelation of the Arrow program because it wasn’t  US made?

At the time, CF- 105 was better than anything in the United States or that anybody flew in the air.

The demise of Canada’s Avro Arrow, “could it have been caused by Political Interference?” — Na, that doesn’t happen, Eh.

Eventually, the fallout from the canceling of the Avro took its toile on the Diefenbaker’s Conservative Government.

If this is true, I will remove Kennedy from my favorite US Presidents list, and it’s, getting pretty short.

*** (Note) At the end of the day, with all remnants of Canada’s Jets Fighter gone like they never existed, Canada still had commitments to fill with Nato and the newly committed “NORAD.”  So, we still had to purchase much-needed jet fighters for the task of warding off the “Enemy.”

So, where do you think the new additions to Canada’s Air Forces where bought?

“Outside Canada — USA” Eh

NEXT button in Red and white

What really happened to the Avro Arrow part 2

SCOURING THE OCEAN FOR THE AVRO ARROW part 3

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