Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
That CBC docu drama shouldn't be used as a basis for arguments on the Arrow it was a nice piece of exaggeration and inaccuracy.
The F-102 was about 1.2 million per plane the F-106 was about 4 million a plane, they were far cheaper then the Arrow which had its costs shoot up to about 12 million dollars per plane if it had ever gone to the finished stage.
Again the technology of the plane was not obsolete but the concept of the plane itself was deemed obsolete especially for Canada and their defense strategy.
Designs that were on the board like the XF-103 and 108 were cancelled.
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Thats why I called the CBC story BS.
I don't know where you are getting the idea that CAF leadership deemed fighter aircraft, the long range interceptor role obsolete. The cancellation was solely political. Any suggestions that this decision originated from the air force wing of the Canadian armed forces is pure speculation and conjecture.
Right or wrong Diefenbaker was the sole driver in the cancellation decision.
"June 1955 AVRO Brochure AD 15 Issue 2: Costs of the CF-105 Arrow has now risen to $153,711,311.00for 40 aircraft versus $118,253,435.00 quoted in Sept 1954 "
http://va3kgb.ve3kbr.com/cf105/timeline.htm
That was for a production run of only 40 aircraft.
IMO Avro and DH was too small a company with no prior experience in this type of aircraft. While the prototype showed promise. Production and the achievement of all flight parameters as promised was still a long ways off.
I personally have no problem with the cancellation. But Diefenbaker was a idiot for ordering the destruction of prototypes and tooling. He did so solely for political purpose. To close the door on any possible CAF lobbying and Avro lobbying to resurrect it.
All of which could only arise because the AC costs and performance. Were still relevant to CAF needs and economics.
This little story sort of covers the basics. But it accurately describes CAF attitudes to the AC. They wanted the AC, it was no more expensive than competing designs. But the nail in the coffin was Diefenbaker's concerns that the CAF and Avro were driving HIS bus. Diefenbaker wanted to show all of them that he was the boss. That he would decide what was right for Canada, rightly or wrongly.
https://legionmagazine.com/en/2014/0...he-avro-arrow/