Arrow in Trouble!!

June 11, 1958.

Malton, Ontario now YYZ.

As you can see the Toronto built CF-105 Interceptor RL 201 is in crash sequence.

"Zura" (Polish-born test pilot, Janusz Zurakowski) is at the controls. Landing gear on the Canadian Arrow were problematic and contributed to the only two Arrow accidents.

This accident occurred because a gear shortening mechanism failed, jamming the landing gear. The Arrow's undercarriage did not fully extend. With the high landing speed, the necessary strong braking on the shorter runway, coupled with the weight of the Arrow, the left undercarriage soon gave way, and then the right, collapsing, as the interceptor left the runway!

"In the fall of 1958 the British magazine; Aviation Studies stated Canada owes it to the free world to put into production the Arrow aircraft, the most advanced interceptor in the Western world."

Never happened.

And, of course, this wasn't the real trouble the Arrow would soon find itself in.

SOON, Avro Canada and the Arrow would be dealing with lackey politicians and an inept prime minister. And it was then, her fate would be sealed–

Photo credit: L Wilkinson or P Brennan
Post-production: SPIR - Paul Cardin