FIRST FLIGHT: CF-100, 61 Years Ago and One Day…

HIGH ABOVE SPARSELY populated Toronto…

On its maiden flight January 19, 1950. Dressed in experimental black!

The top reprocessed photo is my copyright.

The bottom CF-100 photo showcases the "Clunk" in day-to-day duties.

THIS PHOTO is taken from the fabulous second volume about the Avro Arrow entitled… Supersonic Dreams – At the dawn of a new era, which is dedicated to the same, from its rollout to the RCAF’s acquisition of the Bomarc missile (96 pages) written by well-known Avro Canada Collector Marc-André Valiquette, who now is an Author, and Publisher.

TWO BOOKS in the series have been produced so far by Marc-André. With lots of interesting photos and info that only a serious lifelong collector would have.

Do yourself a favor, run out and buy both volumes today which can be found at aviation world, in Toronto, and other fine bookstores everywhere.

The third volume, Seeds of Suspicion, in this four volume series…comes out March 26, 2011.

Desperately, desperately… seeking a Clunk!

WE CAN NEVER forget the Canuck… for if we do, we have lost it.

Entirely.

As an air force?

No. As a nation—

The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (the "Clunk", as we Canadians loved to call it) …was not a bad design, nor, was it a great design.

But IT WAS our design.

Canadian.

Canada's first homegrown all-weather jet interceptor.

"But Arrow, ARROW… most Canadians don't know a lick about the Canuck!"

"They don't even know almost 700 were made right in Toronto."

Point taken~

"Then… really, there is only one thing left to do."

"What Arrow, what?"

Well, for them…

CN Tower. Observation Deck.

Gate open. Jump.


NOT WIDELY known: The Canadian Air & Space Museum located in Downsview Park, in TORONTO, at the former de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada manufacturing plant is looking for a CF-100 to add to their Toronto aviation-themed museum.

So IF YOU have a Canuck, or can get one for them, call today: 416-638-6078

Winter Returns…but will the RCAF?

Nope.

44 great and glorious years!

Then in 1968 comes the Canadian Armed Forces…and out goes the Canadian Navy, and the Canadian Army too. Trudeaupean flower-power initiatives based on European military models and recklessly Canadian tradition is replaced with Trudeau's vision… which, by the way, proved to be garbage.

However, if my political party were in power you know there'd be sweeping changes.

For starters AND overnight, the return of the RCAF, the RCN and the Canadian Army.

These divisions of our national defense would become heavily fortified. Did someone say…shopping spree?

Peacekeeping is useless…policing works best.

We need 9 new aircraft carriers, 1,200 Arrow Mark 7s (including the Mark 8 which is carrier-based) and 30, 000 UAVs. I don't know a damn thing about nuclear submarines, but three for every province and 5 for every Territory would be a healthy start.

And our new Coast Guard ships would look more like small battleships than the current anemic tugboat design.

YYZ perimeter lands would be immediately seized by MY Canadian government and a newer, more expansive Avro Canada would be re-established on the former site. Where do you think our new Arrows, UAVs, aircraft carriers and subs are going to come from?

Did someone say Northwest Passage? International waters?

I say, Canada's Internal Waters.

Did someone say bankruptcy…and bye, bye, GM Canada? Chrysler of Canada? Ford of Canada?

I say hello, Bombardier, Avro and hello, McLaughlin Automotive.

Anyways, its all contained in my political brief, "Outlines". So politically explosive…so fearlessly Canadian…it's not available to the general public at this time.

The Way We Were ::: 1953 ::: CANADA

That's CRAWFORD GORDON (President, A.V. Roe) and FRED SMYE (Vice President, A.V. Roe) shaking hands with the men who were rolling THE FIRST CF-100 Mark IV Canuck off the line, in 1953. On time, and right on schedule.

What a difference two years made with Crawford at the helm.

The earlier CF-100s were delivered to the RCAF in 1951, two years late by that point, and structurally unsound.

Shortly thereafter Crawford turned the whole lackluster enterprise around, commandeering Avro to become the 3rd largest company in Canada by 1955!

So when the tale of Canada is told…the story of Avro CANADA (A. V. Roe Canada) must be told, as well.

To Canadians.

Forget Louis Riel, who was only an insignificant dreamer. But, whom, my history teachers were absolutely mesmerized with back in the soulless high school years of the late 70s.

The esprit de corps at Avro Canada, and the aeronautical achievements at Avro and Orenda for Canadians, and by Canadians, in the 17 short years of her aviation related existence, were absolutely breathtaking for the outsider to behold. Employees were enthusiastic. And unquestionably devoted. As a collective they had that strong regard for the honour of their company. And their country.

Avro was the only place to be, in Canada, in the 50s.

But, let's not pretend. It'll will never happen again.

The little country that could.

Did. However briefly. And that's where it ends.

We will never again repeat the scope and diversity of those aviation technological achievements from such a united and singular industrial base.

Marvels, really—

In technology, and industrial amalgamation.

Avro Canada funded initially and exclusively by the Government of Canada…but moving toward a more public and commercial model of self-sufficiency, only to be ruined in the end.

The Jetliner, the CF-100, the Avrocar, the Orenda Iroquois, and the Arrow. And all that stuff on the drawing boards. Only far flung memories now.

So Avro Canada must always be remembered for lofty dreams, detailed planning and brilliant execution…but only, only—by those Canadians that matter.

"NEVER WAS" does acknowledge the commercial and technological success of Bombardier Aerospace Canada…but I've always been partial to military stuff.

Hey, I gave my heart to Avro.

I own the copyright to this post production rework of the original Avro photo. All rights reserved.

© Paul Cardin
© 2009 SPIR

In a Perfect World…

…AVRO Canada would STILL be there…as it is in this Google Map photo of 2006.

PRESENTLY, Google Maps uses a 2006 aerial map of YYZ…and to my horror Avro Canada was still there! Everyone of any importance in the Toronto region knows Avro Canada, all remaining historical buildings were torn down in that year.

Who at Google is trying to kill me with these memories?

How Did I Get This SCREENSHOT From My 3G iPhone?

Remember whatever you are seeing on your iPhone screen, while surfing the net , gaming etc. can be captured or photographed by the iPhone itself!

Press the Home Key down simultaneously with the On/Off/Sleep/Wake Button and Presto! you hear the camera shutter sound and a SCREENPIC has been created. It can be found in the iPhone's Camera Roll Photo Album in the phone itself!

CLOSER Than Most…

…ever get.

CF-100 Canuck.

Made in Toronto.

In the 50s.

692 were made. Flew with the RCAF for 29 years.