Hamzah Khan
Was Diefenbaker Justified in the Cancellation of the Avro Arrow?
The highlights of Canada's Aviation industry were in the 1950s when the A.V Roe Company created the stellar Avro Arrow. It was the pride of Canada's, and they loved it and cherished it. The CF-105 Arrow was all that was needed and more in a Supersonic jet interceptor. It was the aircraft that would allow us to compete with other Aviation giants in the world in that time period. Then, on February 20th, 1959, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker of the Progressive Conservative party cancelled the Ambitious Avro Arrow, due to "Tremendous costs." This is known Canada-wide as black Friday. The Arrow was the pride of Canadians at the time, and the cancellation of the Arrow crippled the hearts of Canadians. The ambitious CF-105 Arrow should not have been cancelled because of its groundbreaking and flawless design; some of the technology used in it is still used today.
English: Avro CF-105 Arrow RL206 Serial 25206 nose...
Detail of Avro Arrow RL-206 showing torch cutting
The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow (Recreation).Secondly, the promise of Canada's aviation industry was great at the time of the Arrow, as was the economy of Canada. However, with the cancellation of the promising aircraft, Canada's economy suffered huge blows, and the potential to Canada's Aviation industry was slowed. Finally, the CF-105 Arrow would still be in the interests of the Aviation industry if it had not been cancelled.
The Avro Arrow was indeed by far the most advanced aircraft of its time due to its technological capabilities. In 1957, when the Arrow was first flown, the only aircraft that defeated the Arrow was the Russian MiG, in 1983 (26 years later). The technological capabilities of the Avro Arrow surpassed that of any of its rivals at the time. It was able to climb over sixty-thousand feet and carry six to eight missiles at a time (Hobson,