The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was an interceptor aircraft, designed and built by Avro Aircraft Limited (Canada) in Malton.
This plane was to act as a supersonic all weather interceptor. At the time the Avro Arrow was born out of the neccessity for the protection of Canada. During the height of the Cold War during the 1950's. Canada's then current fighter, the CF-100 Canuck, was a sub mach aircraft and not capable of fulfilling certain needs so the design of the CF-105 Avro Arrow was implemented in 1953.
Production was started and less then 4 years later, the Arrow was completed.
It was rolled out on October 4, 1957.
The first flight was March 25 1958.
The Avro Arrow was considered to be both an advanced technical and aerodynamic achievement for the Canadian aviation industry, the CF-105 held the promise of Mach 2 speeds at 50,000 feet plus altitude, and was intended to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force's interceptor for the 1960s and beyond.
A source of national pride, the Arrow incorporated advanced technical innovations and became a symbol of Canadian excellence.
It still ranks as one of the most technically challenging projects ever undertaken in Canada. The design of a supersonic interceptor with the parameters of the Avro Arrow presented engineering problems which were systematically overcome.
On February 20,1959, the Canadian government ordered all work on the Arrow cancelled (Following the start of its flight test program in 1958)
About 14,000 employees were fired. Within two months, five Avro Arrow's and a more powerful sixth, which was close to completion, were ordered reduced to scrap. In addition planes that were in various stages of construction, along with all parts, drawings, accessories, blueprints and photographs were ordered destroyed.
The cancellation of the Arrow, and its accompanying Orenda Iroquois jet engine program sparked a long and bitter political debate.
The Avro Arrow has been the subject of many articles, documentaries, and a cbc movie.