History

The Avro Arrow was designed as a high speed interceptor to destroy enemy bombers attacking North America over the Arctic. The project was cancelled because it was thought missiles could do a better job instead.

Development of the Avro Canada Arrow began in Canada in April 1954, one of the most ambitious aviation projects of its day.

The first Arrow flew on 25 March 1958 and another four joined the flight testing program.

The entire project was cancelled on 20 February 1959 by politicians who believed that the manned interceptor would be replaced missiles and, to ensure that no further development could take place, all the flying Arrows and others under construction were ordered to be destroyed.

Only the nose of one Arrow remains today and it is the most popular item on display in the Canadian National Aviation Museum.

This model represents RL-201, the first prototype in March 1958

AdAstra/Hobbycraft 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in September 1997.

Data

MODEL: Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow

ROLE: Long range all-weather interceptor

TIME PERIOD: 1958-1959

ENGINES: two Pratt & Whitney J75-P-2 turbojets of 10,659kg thrust with reheat

WING SPAN: 15.24m

LENGTH: 23.72m

MAXIMUM TAKE OFF WEIGHT: 35,855kg

MAXIMUM SPEED: mach 2.3

CREW: 2

ARMAMENT: eight Sparrow air-to-air missiles

SCALE: 1/72

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