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The CF-105 AVRO ARROW
A Canadian Legend Proving what we are capable of
- an event now lost in time.
BY AL-HAFIZ VIRANI
Version 5.2, as of February 17th, 2000.

The CF-105 Avro Arrow - Purly Canadian
The American Strategic Air Command
A Lie
AVRO C-102 Jetliner and Velvet Glove Missiles.
Brainwashing the Nation
Denying the Truth
The American Space Program and Ex-Avro Engineers
Living The Dream
Never Stop Dreaming
Presently, this essay is being 'fixed  up' (version 6) and will soon be updated.

More information will be included; including specs, as well as information on the order to scrap the project and the planes.

As well, every attempt will be made to avoid and remove any sort of plagarism that may have occured, (as this was orriginaly intended as an essay for school,) and to more properly credit sources, and also to include more of my own opinions.

The CF-105 Avro Arrow - Purly Canadian
  By legend it is the world's most fastest and feared aircraft. It was designed by Canada - It no longer exists. Canada's controversial ultra high speed high intensity supersonic fighter interceptor the CF-105 Avro Arrow project was terminated on the 20th of February 1959. The five completed planes were all ordered destroyed, along with all related information. They were blowtorched, and reduced to scrap metal. There is strong evidence pointing to political scandals, conspiracies, and cover-ups, not only relating to the Arrow, but to the Canadian designed C-102 Jetliner commercial planes and Velvet Glove missiles as well. There are allegations of a strong CIA and American government involvement. There are many skeptics who stubbornly, despite the enormous evidence, fail to acknowledge the Arrow for what it really is or was. Ironically, and often fustratingly, it is the Canadians who often refuse to accept the Arrow and all it stood for; a symbol of who we are and all that we are capable of. We have to take price in Canada and its ability to beat any nation at whatever it wants. We must acknowledge the achievements of this great nation, not avoid them, if we want to show the world what being a Canadian is all about. The Arrow story shows what happens when we don't. As it ended up, most of our technology went to the Americans. We should - we must - all learn a strong lesson from the story of the Arrow; a strong lesson that we must not forget - in order to insure the survival of, and that we do not lose faith in one of our most greatest privileges - Canada. - It depends on it. So that someday, - we must hope - perhaps, we may still have it.
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The American Strategic Air Command
    The Americans were afraid of the Arrow and its capability of shooting down the CIA's utra top secret U2 spy planes, which they claimed were onlywhich they claimed were only weather research-gathering planes. Since the
Arrow made their planes look like a toy designed by Fisher-Price, they had no other alternative to suggest and insist on a unified defense system. It is not known to a great extent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)'s involvement in the termination of the Arrow project, but Prime minister Diefenbaker and all those thought to be responsible for the decision to scrap the Arrow had denied that they had had any prior knowledge of the Arrow's destruction. It is said that the order to destroy the aircraft came directly from the CIA itself. The NORAD agreement, in accordance with the Buy American Act implemented by Canada, stipulating a joint defense system between the United States and Canada and the allowing of the duty free transport of defensive goods into Canada, appears to have been set up by the US solely for the defense of the American Strategic Air Command. The defense of Canada was not a requirement. The Canadian government denied that the Americans were setting up BOMARK and SAGE missiles, even though official documents and memos had been sent to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and to the Canadian government describing such CIA_U2-Spy_Planeactivity by the United States. The US warned that their nuclear missile bases would be established just south of the Great Lakes if Canada refused to comply to US demands and buy the BOMARK and SAGE missiles. The US knew full well that Canada could not afford both the missiles and the Arrow. They knew that the purchase of the missiles by Canada would mean the unavoidable termination of the CF-105 Avro Arrow project. Had US nuclear strikes on Soviet bombers been fired from the American side of the border, regardless of weather they actually hit the bombers, and especially if they missed, the inevitable result would have been the US nuclear missiles landing in Canada; most probably in southern Ontario and Quebec - the most populated areas of Canada.
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A Lie
    During the Conservative Cabinet meeting that took place on January 13th, 1959, Minister Pearkes stated that Canada's 100 interceptors would not be able to help North American defense against the Soviet threat. He said Canada could rely on the US's long range F-108. In fact, the F-108 was only a name attributed to the next possible plane that could be built. The F-108 had not even come close to getting on the drawing boards. No long range plane called the F-108 has ever been designed or built since then.
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AVRO C-102 Jetliner and Velvet Glove Missiles.
    The Arrow was not the first great Canadian achievement that was destroyed. It was one of many. One of which is the AVRO C-102 Jetliner. Before the Arrow, on July 27, 1949 the British DC Comet, barely rose a few feet off of a runway in England, to become the world's first commercial Jetliner. In less than two weeks, Canada's commercial Jetliner took off on August 10, 1949. In less than an hour it had already broken every single record on high speeds, time, distance, and on height, with altitudes reaching over 13, 000 feet. The C-102 Jetliner flew an astonishing eight years before the world's first Bowing's 707 - an American plane that probably used the Jetliner technology. Jim Floyd, who later worked on the Arrow, was part of the designing team of the Jetliner. At one point the New York press said that "This should give our nation a good healthful kick in its placidity. The fact that our massive but underpopulated good neighbor to the north has a mechanical product that licks anything of ours is just what the doctor ordered for our overdeveloped ego. The Canadian plane's feat accelerates a process already begun in this nation - a realization that Uncle Sam has no monopoly on genius." In 1956, the revolutionary C-102 Jetliner project was terminated and all existing Jetliners were destroyed and reduced to scrap metal, just like the Arrow - despite the fact that hundreds of orders were pouring in for the purchase and manufacture of C-102 Jetliners. National Airlines was to purchase four aircraft at 1 million dollars each and six more at a later date. The United States Air Force had ordered 20 Jetliners. It was recorded in a report that no one had wanted to buy the plane and that it was terribly designed. Surprisingly, this information surfaced within Canada - and only Canada itself, and ironically the only one's who seemed to believe it were the Canadians. These reports were later proven to be false. The US Bowing project in Seattle was composed of mainly ex-Avro engineers with many of the senior engineers from the Arrow program contributing their Arrow and Jetliner technical know-how to the US civil and military programs. Another great Canadian achievement; the Velvet Glove project - the highly advanced and powerful supersonic Air to Air Missiles, developed and built by Canadair of Montreal and costing over 24 million dollars in research and development alone, were ordered destroyed and the project canceled. Just before the project was terminated, it was decided that the Canadian missiles would be used on a new supersonic plane being designed by Avro at the time - the CF-105. The already-proven Canadian built missiles were replaced by untested American SAGE and BOMARK missiles. The American missiles were never used.
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Brainwashing the Nation
    One of the largest attempts at brainwashing ever made in Canada were devised by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian government. Documents proved that the Canadian government felt that the Arrow was far too good, and more powerful than of any country - therefore they had to be destroyed. Makes sense doesn't it? A propaganda and disinformation campaign was implemented and currently is still in effect since 1957. Many propagandic and altered information had been placed into history text books, periodicals, and newspapers. The most damaging of all are the history textbooks. They are designed to give young Canadians wrong information, telling them that a Canadian heritage is nonexistent and that the country is young and has achieved practically nothing. They are designed to give pro-American nationalism and dedicate all achievements to the Americans. They imply that Canada has no real heroes, and that those who were "heroes" made no difference to anyone anyway. Ironically, this information is only found in Canada. Many of the brainwashing anti-Canadian propaganda found in Canadian history text books include; "the Arrow never existed," "the Arrow was obsolete," "The Arrow was of such poor design that it would never be able to fly, and the aerodynamics were terrible," "the aircraft was not Canadian, it was designed by British and American engineers." The later is one of the most ridiculous; the entire Avro Arrow Dream Team of Bob Lindley, James Jim Floyd, Guest Hake, and Jim Chamberlin, was Canadian. Sure there were a few engineers at A. V. Row that weren't Canadian born, but to say that their achievements didn't really count because they weren't truly Canadian is blow to the back of the head for all those thousands of Canadian immigrants in this Country. Their achievements count as contributions that were made by Canadians; as they are Canadian citizens. Another false myth is that the company was in a mess. Actually, Avro was one of the largest companies in Canada. Others include, "the Arrow cost too much," The Arrows cost did rise from $2 million to $5 million per plane, but not the $12.5 million stated by the Conservative government and Primeminister Diefenbaker. The Arrow cost was based on the first 5 aircraft in which the American bought Pratt & Whitney J-75 engines were used. In fact, the cost of the Arrow was rapidly decreasing and all the Arrow money would remain in Canada. Eventually, with the production of the rest of the aircraft the price would drop to less than $2 million per aircraft. But even with a price-tag of $12.5 million, it would have been cheaper than any aircraft designed or built by the US or Great Britain. One of the most outrageous claims is that, "the Arrow cancellation was good because otherwise we would have had Arrows involved in Vietnam and in other world conflicts, and this would not be something to be proud of." This implies that nuclear warheads, missiles, tanks, guns, and the atomic bomb are perfectly alright and better than the Arrow. Palmiro Campagna wrote in his book "Storms of Controversy" that this "was typical of Canadians unable to accept pride their achievements." Palmiro Campagna also said in his book that there is "Pygmation psycology in Canadians - that is, when you continually tell somebody intelligent how foolish he is, eventually he believes it and reacts accordingly. How often have we heard, "Well, if it's Canadian, then it can't be good" or the other, "If it's Canadian, then it costs too much"? It is high time this ridiculous psycology was stopped." He also mentioned how, ironically, including the US, every other country except for Canada regards Canadian products and have always regarded them as first class. The ridiculous irony and these outrageous claims are an insult to the many Canadians who worked on the projects and to Canadians and Canada as a whole. The dedication in the front of his book says it all, "For...all the children of the world. May their dreams become reality and not suffer at the hands of those unable to dream." To say the Arrow never existed, is to say that there is no such thing as a Canadian identity, and it seems that is exactly what everyone is saying today. It appears Palmiro Campagna may have very well been right.
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Denying the Truth
    So many people do not and will not, and continuously refuse to believe, despite the enormous evidence, and no matter how much or how many times you tell them. For instance, Time Magazine, in its January 20th issue, in an article by Michael Bliss who is a professor of history at the University of Toronto, said that "In the real world, no responsible government could have continued to support the Arrow, and even if they had, the only result would have been to delay the inevitable integration of the North American Defense Production." In actual fact, the government had to have continued with the Arrow. There was no reason to shut it down because of the high expectations. Besides, the Arrow had already proven itself in the wind tunnel and in the rocket test flights. Also the final result would not be an integration of the defenses. With a defense so powerful of our own, we could crush all opposition including the Soviets and the Americans. Besides the Americans would never agree to being leagued with a more powerful country, especially if it was Canada. "The Canadian Encyclopedia," Copyright © 1988 stated that export efforts had failed and that no body wanted to buy the Arrow, so it had to be cancelled. In fact orders were pouring in for the purchase of Avro Arrows and the Arrow's Iroquois engine. Michael Bliss, in his article, claimed that the Arrow was a "myth" and said "How many younger Canadians, citizens of an independent world will buy into an economic nationalism that that was already anachronistic 40 years ago?" and also that "Sensible folk...want to be proud of Canada's real achievements." He also went on to say in his final paragraph, "I tell my history students that the last CF-105 is stored in a barn in Saskatchewan. It's taken out and flown once a year. - By Elvis." The Toronto Star said on February 20th, 1986, "For all its sleek technological excellence, the Arrow was a peace-lover's ideal weapon, it would self-destruct on use." Skeptics such as these are ignorant of history. These stubborn people refuse to get it into their thick unpenetrable skulls that the Arrow is Canada. They refuse to acknowledge that it is something we have to be proud of. They don't realize that this extraordinary plane is a symbol of this incredible nation; it is a symbol of Canada, a symbol of the truth. But is the truth so impossible to believe? Why must they shut their minds to the truth? Why are people so unpatriotic, so anti-Canadian - so stupid? They insult themselves and support those who insult them. These have no sense of reality; no sense of Canada; no sense of what is feels to be truly a Canadian. They don't have the true sensation of a Canadian nationalism that should define Canada. These ignorant people are not true Canadians. They complain and whine about how bad it is here and how much better it is in the States. Fine, if they don't like it, leave! I think that they will quickly discover that they should never have left. This kind of attitude is disgusting and those who maintain it should be ashamed of their unbelivably ridiculous and outrageous attacks and insults to our dignity. Why? Because Canada is the world's greatest nation. We have to take pride in Canada and it's ability to beat any nation at whatever it wants. We must accept and admit the achievements of this great nation not shun them, if we want to show the people of the world who we Canadians really are. The sad story of the Arrow shows what happens when we don't. These people don't realize that we have to remember the Arrow not with insults, or as a Canadian joke, but with pride as one our most defining moments as Canadians.
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The American Space Program and Ex-Avro Engineers
    We gave the Americans space flight - and they still have yet to say thanks. The US's landing of the first man on the moon was only achieved through the use of Arrow technology from ex-Avro engineers who had been fired after the cancellation of the Arrow project. Before the Arrow technology, the American space program was practically non-existent. Due to the limits imposed by wind tunnel testing, pre-flight model testing was created in 1954. The technique was developed by the Canadian NACA. Eleven Arrow models blasted off with rocket boosters of 45 000 pounds which eventually separated from the model itself - a technique used today in NASA space rockets. The models were constructed of stainless steel and to this day they are still resting underneath the surface of the waters in which they splashed down more than 50 years ago. It is not hard to notice that the frame, design, and shape of the NASA Space Shuttle is almost identical to the Arrow, if not somewhat larger. The transmitting system that provided information to ground personnel was a system was a system that was later used in the US Manned Space Program. As recorded by the Apollo Space Program that landed Niel Armstrong on the moon, "As the Space Task Group's burden was threatening to overwhelem it, the Canadian government unintentionally gave the American space program its luckiest break...The Canadians never gained much public recognition for their contribution to the manned space program, but to the people within the program their contribution was incalculable...They had it all over us, in many areas...just brilliant guys...They were more mature and they were bright as hell and talented and professional to a man." Jim Chamberlain, along with more than 30 Avro engineers, went to NASA. He was head of engineering and designed the capsule used by John Glenn in the Mercury Project. He was head of the U.S. Space Task Group and directed Project Gemini, and of course, Project Apollo, which allowed man to land on the moon for the first time. He recieved NASA's Gold Medal for his work. At the time of his death, he was technical director at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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Living The Dream
    Along with the Arrow went a strong Canadian Nationalism. Many Canadians stopped believing in Canada as a great nation. A native of Ottawa, Canadian born Dan Ackroyd who played the lead role as Crawford Gordon, the president and general manager of A.V.Row in the 8 million dollar CBC movie, "The Arrow," that was aired on the CBC on Sunday January 12th and 13th, 1997, said, "The Arrow shows us that, as Canadians, we can do anything, and we're resourceful. I hope young people will be inspirired. We need to nurture our talent to survive." The Canadian built ultra high-speed supersonic high-intenensity fighter interceptors, the C-105 Avro Arrows, the C-102 Jetliners, and the Velvet Glove missiles are perfect examples of who we are and what we are capable of. It should be a lesson to all of us that we cannot - we must not forget our identity if we wish to survive and we must not lose our pride in being who we truly are; Canadian. We have to realize that our potential is far more greater and extremely powerful compared to those idiots south of the border. We should just stop listening to the stupid Yankees' interpretations of history; tell them to shut up, mind their own business, and stop telling us what to do. And then we can start to tell the true story of history undistorted - and purly Canadian.
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Never Stop Dreaming
    Canada's most famous ill-fated ultra high speed high intensity supersonic fighter interceptor the
controversial CF-105 Avro Arrow met its horrible, and most unfortunate death as all five completed
planes were blowtorched to scrap metal as a result of the order that was issued on February 20th,
1959 indicating the termination of the project. There is an extrordinary amount of unquestionable
evidence of Canadian government scandals, and CIA conspiracies and cover-ups, pertaining not
only to the Arrow, but to several other great Canadian achievements as well, including the C-102
Jetliner commercial planes and Velvet Glove missiles. Skeptics continuously and stubbornly, despite
the gross amount of evidence, refuse to recognize the Arrow as symbol of who we are and all that
we are capable of. The most ironic and extremely outrageously ridiculous thing, is that it is the
Canadians who are the ones who dismiss the Arrow and the true meaning of all that it stood for -
the truth, and Canada. As it ended up, most of our technology went to the Americans and they - and
only they - got credit for all of it. The Arrow teaches a strong lesson that we should - we must -
learn; we must believe; and we must understand. We must realize that those Americans are not the
best and that it shows our potential and how much we can be capable of if only we set our minds to
it. If we just learn to allow ourselves to dream for even a fraction of a second, we will be genuinely
surprised to learn how many things we Canadians are truly capable of. We have to stop this insanity
of not believing in ourselves if we want to succeed and have the strength to survive, and then only
can we be a strong unified nation; then only can we be all that we can be; and then, and only then,
can we be the true north strong and free. Maybe, just maybe, perhaps someday, we will.

- B E L I E V E   T H E   D R E A M -


SOURCES
"Storms of Controversy" - Palmiro Campagna.
"TIME" magazine, Canadian Edition - January 20, 1997.
"TV Times" The Montreal Gazette - January 11, 1997.
"The Canadian Encyclopedia" Second Edition, Volume 1
                        - Copyright © 1988 by Hurtig Publishers Ltd.
SUGGESTED READINGS
"Stormes of Controversy: The Secret Avro Arrow Files Revealed" - Palmiro Campagna.
"Shutting Down the National Dream: A.V. ROE and the Tragedy of the Avro Arrow"
                      - Greig Stewart.
"The Arrow" - James Dow.
"Avro Arrow: The Story of the Avro Arrow from its Evolution to its Extinction"
                      - The Arrowheads.
"There Never was an Arrow" - Edith K. (Kathleen) Shaw.
"Fall of an Arrow" - Murray Peden.
"Arrow Through the Heart: The Life and Times of Crawford Gordon and the Avro Arrow"
                      - Greig Stewart.
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