THe HISTORY OF THE AVRO ARROW

Jasper H, Year 11 writes...

The Avro Arrow was a jet interceptor aircraft developed by A.V. Roe Canada (Avro) during the 1950s. The project was initiated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to defend against potential Soviet bomber attacks during the Cold War. The Arrow was designed to be a supersonic, all-weather interceptor capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.5.

The design of the Arrow began in 1953, and the first prototype made its maiden flight in 1958. The aircraft received positive reviews for its performance, and the RCAF ordered 100 production models. However, in 1959, the Canadian government abruptly cancelled the program, citing financial and economic reasons.

The cancellation of the Avro Arrow program resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs, and caused significant political and economic upheaval in Canada. It also marked the end of Canada’s aircraft manufacturing industry. Many of the engineers and technicians who worked on the Arrow program emigrated to the United States, where they found work in the aerospace industry.

The Avro Arrow remains a source of national pride and a symbol of the potential of Canadian innovation and ingenuity. The story of the Avro Arrow, and its cancellation, continues to be studied in Canadian history, and is often used as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political interference in the economy.