The Avro Arrow

The Avro Arrow

The Avro Arrow was Canada's greatest aeronautical achievement but the project was canceled in 1959. The Avro Arrow or also known as CF-105, was a supersonic jet and was faster and more advanced than any other aircraft at its time. It was designed to carry air-to-air nuclear-tipped missiles to destroy Soviet bomb attacks over the Canadian North. The main reason for the scraping of the project was the cost, originally the production estimated 2 million per aircraft but it later rose to 12 million. The cost for reproduction of this would be too much and would not be able to sell the plane to Europe or the U.S. So it was cancelled on February 20 1959 “The conclusion arrived at is that the development of the Arrow aircraft and Iroquois engine should be terminated now” (Prime Minister Diefenbaker).This makes us think what would the technology for planes be like now if we hadn't scraped the project.

Although canceling the Arrow made economic sense because of its high cost for reproduction I don’t think it was necessary for every part in the aircraft to be scrapped because I'm sure with time they would've re created the project but cheaper and more price conscientious. Also it does not make sense for the money to be spent on the project and for Canada not to keep the plane because now the money that had gone into it goes completely to waste. I also believe that even keeping the original and making modifications to older planes that were in Canada’s hands according to the Avro Arrow. It is still a mystery why this project was scrapped.