Preserving Canada’s Iconic Supersonic Avro Arrow Jet: A Look into Conservation Efforts
Six decades after the supersonic Avro Arrow suddenly stopped flying, Canada is working hard to preserve what few pieces of it are left. The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow (known as the Arrow among its fans) was one of the most advanced supersonic jets of its era in the 1950s. It even has a link with NASA across the border, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. But the Arrow program’s funding was nixed in 1959 in a still-controversial decision by the Canadian government of the day, led by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
Preservation Efforts and Legacy
There was a silver lining for NASA, as a few of Avro’s employees eventually were hired by the agency and participated in the early U.S. space program, according to Ingenium. Some even worked on the Apollo moon landings. The Arrow’s legacy was recently celebrated at a Canadian museum trying to keep safe the few parts that remain from the program, as the airplanes, plans and most other artifacts were destroyed in the aftermath of the cancellation decision.
Fortunately, there is an Arrow nose section on display in Ottawa that represents the largest surviving piece of any of the airplanes; it’s in the Cold War section of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (CASM). Ingenium, which is the organization made up of CASM and two other Ottawa museums, recently took a look at the nose piece to see how it was doing.
Conservation Analysis and Findings
CCI representatives did non-invasive examinations with techniques such as X-rays, and took a few tiny samples, to check on the nose cone’s health. The analysis uncovered new clues about how the airplane was made. For example, at least one part of the plane’s exterior was made of an aluminum alloy, likely including elements such as copper, iron, and manganese.
The hatch door of the nose piece had some bare metal and yellow-brown “material” that also underwent scrutiny. The analysis showed the Arrow was treated with zinc chromium before flying, to prevent corrosion when flying through the air.
Conservators also scrutinized the degrading, cream-colored paint on the aircraft as well as a greasy-looking substance on the radar dome. The radar dome is made from chloroprene rubber, similar to what wetsuits require; that rubber is “becoming almost spongy” with age. The grease is also due to age; it’s from non-toxic silicone “migrating out from inside the rubber to the surface.”
Future Preservation Strategies
The new analysis will allow conservators to better implement strategies in the coming years to keep the Arrow pieces, which also include ejection seats and flight models, preserved in the coming decades. The Arrow is a popular exhibit at the museum, as its loss remains a sore point in the Canadian aviation community.
Debate continues about whether the government made the right choice given the high cost and quickly changing technology of the era. “Some think that the Arrow’s high costs contributed to its downfall,” the Canadian Encyclopedia stated; the program was estimated at $1.1 billion CDN in 1959, which translates to roughly $11.65 billion CDN today, or $8.57 billion USD at current exchange rates.
Conclusion
The Avro Arrow’s preservation efforts shed light on an important chapter in Canadian aviation history. Through the conservation of its remaining artifacts, the legacy of the Arrow continues to inspire and educate future generations about the advancements and challenges faced in the aerospace industry. As Canada works to safeguard these pieces of history, the story of the Arrow will remain a symbol of ingenuity, determination, and innovation in the face of adversity.