In the late 1950s, Canada was looking to modernize its Air Force.  In 1953, Avro Aircraft Limited seemed to provide the perfect plane, the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow.  The CF-105 design featured supersonic, Mach 2 speeds and innovative wing design; it was poised to be a great accomplishment for the Canadian aviation industry.  Production of the CF-105 began in 1955, but after five planes were completed, the project took a turn for the worse.

On this day, February 20th, in 1959, Canada’s Avro Arrow supersonic jet program was cancelled. The announcement was made by Prime Minster Diefenbaker and was known as “Black Friday” in the Canadian aviation industry.  The decision to terminate the Avro Arrow program put nearly 15,000 employees out of work and would eventually lead to the end of Avro Aircraft Limited.  All Avro aircraft, engines, tooling and technical data were destroyed shortly after the announcement; however, it is rumored that one CF-105 was saved by Air Marshal W.A. Curtis.

The abrupt end to the Avro CF-105 program is still surrounded with great controversy and mourning.  The Arrow program was on pace to challenge world speed and altitude records.  Unfortunately, the supersonic jet would never be given the chance to become the crown jewel of the Canadian aviation industry.  The loss of the Arrow would also mean the loss of some of Canada’s best engineers working on the project; 25 engineers involved in the CF-105 program would go on to work for NASA’s Space Task Group.