The nine mini Avro Arrows used for testing could genuinely pack a punch. They reached Mach 1.7 speeds before landing in the lake, yet offered the engineers everything they needed to know to perfect the aircraft. Fortunately, only a few improvements needed to be done.
They drooped the wings, altered the camber, and added a dogtooth, all features that high-speed aircrafts still have today. Additionally, they applied information from a newly-published area rule principle that suggested things like a sharper nose and a tail cone would improve the design.
Delta Wings
The Avro Arrow was named after its distinctive wing design, often referred to as delta wings. Today, delta wings are found on many small and medium-sized aircraft, but back it was an entirely new concept. Not only was it a more sleek design, but it had a purpose as well.
Aircraft engineers struggled for years to overcome the sound barrier. The production of the Avro Arrow led to the discovery of how to do this using the proper wing shape. Delta wings are unique as the wingspan reduces drag, allowing the plane to fly faster than the speed of sound.
The Prototypes
The delta wings were tested using the nine Avro Arrow prototypes. At just 10 feet long, each model had a wingspan of 6.5 feet. While they appeared the same as what would later become the Avro Arrow, they weren’t a replica as they ran on solid fuel.
Launched from Point Petre in Ontario, the prototypes needed an extra boost to get off the ground. They were mounted on rocket boosters to test better the stability and the drag of the new delta wings.
Sputnik Stole The Show
In October of 1957, the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow finally made its debut. As expected, it was an occasion that attracted 13,000 spectators as it marked a significant moment in history for Canadian defenses. Marked the RL-201, the debut of the new plane was overshadowed by the Soviets.
Before the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow even had a chance to take off, the Soviet Union stole the show. They launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial Earth satellite. Suddenly no one was interested in Canada’s new airplane.
A Threat From Above
Even though the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was well designed and truly innovative for the times, it was overshadowed by what the Soviets had come up with. Despite how useful the creation of the delta wings would become, Sputnik forced the Western World to change their priorities.
The artificial satellite not only acted as a threat from above, but it also created the illusion that the Soviet Union was more technologically advanced than they actually were. Ultimately, Canadians knew they couldn’t afford to defend themselves from threats coming from the land and space.