Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck
CF-100 Canuck | |
---|---|
No. 423 Squadron Mk 4B CF-100s, 1962. This squadron was based in Grostenquin, France. | |
Role | Interceptor aircraft |
Manufacturer | Avro Canada |
First flight | 19 January 1950 |
Introduction | 1952 |
Retired | 1981 |
Status | Withdrawn from service |
Primary users | Belgian Air Force
|
Number built | 692[1] |
Developed into | Avro Canada CF-103 |
The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the "Clunk") is a Canadian twinjet interceptor/fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Avro Canada. It has the distinction of being the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production.
Work commenced in October 1946 in response to a
The CF-100 principally served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and
During 1981, all of the remaining RCAF CF-100s were withdrawn from service, having been succeeded in the electronic warfare role by the
Design and development
Background
Amid the final years of the Second World War, officials in Canada had concluded both that the development of a self-sufficient indigenous military aviation industry would be of considerable national value and that the new field of jet propulsion held considerable promise. As early as July 1944, Canada had commenced work on its own turbojet engine programme, producing the experimental Avro Canada Chinook powerplant.[3] During the late 1940s and early 1950s, events such as the Korean War and Soviet atomic bomb project had contributed to the rising international tensions of what would become known as the Cold War; the Canadian Government decided to respond by greatly increasing defense expenditure.[4] The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was a major recipient of the expanded budget, reaching 46.6% of overall defense expenditure during FY 1951-1952, some of which is attributable to several major procurement programmes that were conducted.[5]
During this period, the RCAF had a strong interest in acquiring its own fleet of jet-powered combat aircraft. Specifically, the service had identified a need for a new
On 3 November 1945, an agreement was struck to develop a prototype jet-powered fighter on behalf of the RCAF; on 13 October 1946, the issuing of government contracts to aircraft manufacturer
Flight testing
The CF-100 Mark 1 prototype, 18101, emerged from the factory, painted gloss black overall with white lightning bolts running down the fuselage and engines. On 19 January 1950, the CF-100 prototype flew its
In response to the loss and issues encountered, Avro Canada dismissed several members of the design team and established a special working group to rectify a major structural design error identified.[5] To address the latter, a straightforward modification was developed that could be easily retrofitted into the pre-production aircraft.[5] While both prototypes had been powered by Avon engines, the subsequent pre-production and production series aircraft used the locally developed Orenda powerplant instead, the first of which flying during June 1951. As a result of delays encountered in the development of the Orenda, its selection unavoidably impacted the CF-100 programme's timetable as well.[8] Dissatisfied with the pace of development, Cabinet Minister C. D. Howe informed Avro to suspend work on all other projects and focus its efforts on completing the CF-100.[10]
Five pre-production Mk 2 test aircraft (serial numbers 18103-18107) were produced, all fitted with Orenda 2 engines; one was fitted with dual controls and designated a Mk 2T trainer. According to pilot Jacqueline Cochran, the Orenda engine responded noticeably smoother than any of the British or American-built jet engines that she had previously flown.[11] Initial teething issues with the pre-production aircraft were soon resolved. The first production version, designated Mk 3, made its first flight during October 1952.[1] The Mk 3 incorporated the APG-33 radar and was armed with eight .50 caliber Browning M3 machine guns. The Mk 3CT and Mk 3DT were again dual control versions supplied to operational training units.[citation needed]
During mid-January 1955, a CF-100 arrived at
Production
During September 1950, the RCAF placed an initial production order for 124 Mk 3 aircraft, the first of which entering service in 1953.[citation needed] This model was armed with eight .50 caliber machine guns. The definitive rocket-armed Mk 4A was based on the prototype Mk 4 (a modified Mk 3), which first flew on 11 October 1952. The nose housed the much larger APG-40 radar, while the wings were equipped with wingtip pods, each containing up to 29 Mk 4/Mk 40 "Mighty Mouse" folding-fin aerial rocket, to be used in addition to the guns. During 1954, the last 54 of an order for the Mk 3 were swapped for the more advanced Mk 4, the total orders for the Mk 4 rose to 510. The Mk 4B version was furnished with more powerful Orenda 11s.[citation needed]
Five versions, or
Operational history
Amongst RCAF pilots, the Canuck was affectionately known as the "Clunk",[16] the name has been attributed to the noise produced by the forward landing gear during retraction into its well after takeoff. Another common, less attractive, nickname was the "Lead Sled", a reference to its heavy controls and general lack of maneuverability, a nickname that was shared with a number of other 1950s aircraft.[17] Others included CF-Zero, the Zilch, and the Beast, all references to an aircraft many pilots considered less glamorous than RCAF day fighters like the Canadair Sabre.[18]
Operationally, many CF-100s functioned under the US–Canadian
Around the start of the
At its peak, the CF-100 served with nine RCAF squadrons in the mid-1950s. Four of these squadrons were deployed to Europe under the NIMBLE BAT ferry program, replacing multiple NATO RCAF squadrons equipped with Canadair Sabre day fighters to provide all-weather defense against Soviet intruders. While flown in the North American theatre, the CF-100 would typically retain a natural metal finish; however, those flying overseas were given a British-style disruptive camouflage scheme: dark sea gray and green on top, light sea gray on the bottom.[22]
During his Avro Canada years, the Chief Development Pilot, S/L
During the type's production life, 692 CF-100s of different variants were manufactured, including the 53 aircraft that were delivered to the Belgian Air Force. Although originally designed for only 2,000 flight hours, it was found that the Canuck's airframe could serve for over 20,000 hours before needing to be withdrawn. The Belgian aircraft were either scrapped after storage or written off in crashes. Consequently, though the Canadian CF-100 would be replaced in its front line role by the faster
During the late 1950s, an advanced supersonic interceptor, CF-105 Arrow along with the sophisticated Orenda Iroquois engine, was under development by Avro Canada as an intended successor to the CF-100.[23] However, during 1959, work on the CF-105 was terminated following a controversial decision by the Canadian government.
Variants
- CF-100 Mk 1 : The first two prototypes.
- CF-100 Mk 1P : Proposed photo-reconnaissance version. Not built.
- CF-100 Mk 2 : Ten pre-production aircraft.
- CF-100 Mk 2T : Dual control training version of the CF-100 Mk 2. Two built.
- CF-100 Mk 3 : Two-seat all-weather long-range interceptor fighter aircraft. First production version for the .5-inch Browning M3guns (200 rounds per gun) in a forward firing ventral gun pack. 70 built.
- CF-100 Mk 3A : CF-100 Mk 3 sub-type, powered by two Orenda 2 turbojet engines. 21 built.
- CF-100 Mk 3B : CF-100 Mk 3 sub-type, powered by two Orenda 8 turbojet engines. 45 built.
- CF-100 Mk 3CT : One CF-100 Mk 3 converted into a dual control training aircraft. Later redesignated CF-100 Mk 3D.
- CF-100 Mk 4 : Two-seat all-weather long-range interceptor fighter aircraft. Eight .5-inch Browning M3 guns (200 rounds per gun) in a forward firing ventral gun pack. Plus two wingtip pods of 29 x 70-mm (2.75 in) "Mighty Mouse" fin-folding aerial rockets. One pre-production aircraft.
- CF-100 Mk 4A : CF-100 Mk 4 sub-type, powered by two Orenda 9 turbojet engines. 137 built.
- CF-100 Mk 4B : CF-100 Mk 4 sub-type, powered by two Orenda 11 turbojet engines. 141 built.
- CF-100 Mk 4X : Proposed version of the CF-100 Mk 4. Not built.
- CF-100 Mk 5 : Two-seat all-weather long-range interceptor fighter aircraft, powered by two Orenda 11 or Orenda 14 turbojet engines. Two wingtip pods of 29 x 70-mm (2.75 in) "Mighty Mouse" fin-folding aerial rockets. 332 built.
- CF-100 Mk 5D : Small number of CF-100 Mk 5s converted into ECM (Electronic Countermeasures), EW (Electronic Warfare) aircraft.
- CF-100 Mk 5M : Small number of CF-100 Mk 5s equipped to carry the AIM-7 Sparrow II air-to-air missiles.
- CF-100 Mk 6 : Proposed version armed with the AIM-7 Sparrow II air-to-air missile. Not built.
Operators
- Belgian Air Force(53 Mk 5s from 1957 to 1964)
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Canadian Forces Air Command
- 409 Squadron
- 410 Squadron
- 414 Squadron
- 416 Squadron
- 419 Squadron
- 423 Squadron
- 425 Squadron
- 428 Squadron
- 432 Squadron
- 433 Squadron
- 440 Squadron
- 445 Squadron
- 448 Squadron
Notable accidents and incidents
- 11 August 1953: a CF-100 crashed in Longueuil, Québec shortly after take-off, killing both crewmen. Two houses were struck, killing seven on the ground including five children - all six years old and younger.[24]
- 15 May 1956: A CF-100 crashed into the Villa St. Louis at Orléans, Ontario, killing both crewmen and 13 civilians on the ground in what is known as the Convent Crash.
- 25 August 1958: Two CF-100s in a four-aircraft formation collided and crashed at No. 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin, France. One aircraft crashed into the base hospital and one crashed into a field. Two people were killed in the hospital and three aircrew were killed.[25]
Aircraft on display
Belgium
- 18534 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at the
Canada
- 18104 – CF-100 on static display at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.[27]
- 18106 – CF-100 Mk.2 on static display at the Memorial Military Museum in Campbellford, Ontario.[28]
- 18126 – CF-100 Mk.3D on static display at Calgary, Alberta.[29]
- 18138 – CF-100 Mk.3B on static display at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia.[30]
- 18152 – CF-100 Mk.3 on static display at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta.[31]
- 18488 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display in Moncton, New Brunswick.[32]
- 18500 – CF-100 Mk.5D on static display at CFB North Bay in North Bay, Ontario.[33]
- 18506 – CF-100 Mk.4B in storage at the Canadian Air, Land, and Sea Museum in Toronto, Ontario. It was previously on display at the RCAFA 447 Wing at Hamilton International Airport, Mount Hope, Ontario.[34]
- 18602 – CF-100 on static display at Haliburton Highlands High School in Haliburton, Ontario.[35]
- 18619 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at Paul Coffey Park in Malton, Ontario.[36]
- 18626 – CF-100 Mk.5M on static display at Lee Park in North Bay, Ontario.[37]
- 18731 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.[38]
- 18746 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.[39]
- 18759 – CF-100 on static display at the
- 18761 – CF-100 on static display at CFB Cold Lake in Cold Lake, Alberta.[42]
- 18774 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario.[43]
- 18784 – CF-100 on static display at Air Force Heritage Park at Winnipeg, Manitoba.[44]
- 100472 – CF-100 on static display at the Air Defence Museum at CFB Bagotville in Saguenay, Quebec.[45]
- 100476 – CF-100 Mk.4B on static display at the
- 100493 – CF-100 Mk.5D on ground display at the better source needed]
- 100747 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at the
- 100757 – CF-100 Mk.5D on static display at the Ottawa, Ontario.[52]
- 100760 – CF-100 Mk.5 in storage at the
- 100785 – CF-100 Mk.5D on static display at the Mount Hope, Ontario.[54]
- 100790 – CF-100 on static display at the Comox Air Force Museum in Comox, British Columbia.[55][56]
United Kingdom
- 18393 – CF-100 Mk.4B on static display at the
United States
- 100779 – CF-100 Mk.5C on static display at the
- 18241 – CF-100 Mk.4A on static display at the
- 100504 – CF-100 Mk.5 on static display at the
Specifications (CF-100 Mk 5)
Data from [citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m)
- Wingspan: 57 ft 2 in (17.42 m)
- Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
- Wing area: 591 sq ft (54.9 m2)
- Empty weight: 23,100 lb (10,478 kg)
- Gross weight: 33,450 lb (15,173 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg) [65]
- Powerplant: 2 × Avro Canada Orenda 11 turbojetengines, 7,300 lbf (32 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 552 mph (888 km/h, 480 kn)
- Range: 2,000 mi (3,200 km, 1,700 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (14,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 8,750 ft/min (44.5 m/s)
- Thrust/weight: 0.44
Armament
- Rockets: 2 wingtip pods of 29 x 70-mm (2.75 in) "Mighty Mouse" fin-folding aerial rockets
Avionics
- Radar
See also
- Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada
- Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow - the design intended to replace the CF-100
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Douglas F3D Skyknight
- Gloster Javelin
- Lockheed F-94 Starfire
- Northrop F-89 Scorpion
- Sud Aviation Vautour
- Yakovlev Yak-25
Related lists
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d Dow 1997, p. 72.
- ^ Page 1981, p. 64.
- ^ Dow 1997, pp. 62-63.
- ^ Dow 1997, pp. 66-70.
- ^ a b c d Dow 1997, p. 70.
- ^ Dow 1997, pp. 64-65.
- ^ Dow 1997, p. 63-65.
- ^ a b c d e Dow 1997, p. 69.
- ^ Rossiter 2002, p. 63.
- ^ Dow 1997, pp. 70-72.
- ^ Dow 1997, p. 73.
- ^ "Eglin Will Test New All-Weather RCAF Interceptor". The Okaloosa News-Journal, Crestview, Florida, Volume 41, Number 3, 20 January 1955, p. 6.
- ^ "ADA-Arrow Pilots: Jan Zurakowski." Avroarrow.org. Retrieved: 31 October 2011.
- ^ "Eglin Tests Latest Canadian Jet Model". The Okaloosa News-Journal, Crestview, Florida, Volume 42, Number 14, 5 April 1956, p. 20.
- ^ Whitcomb 2008, p. 89.
- ^ a b c Dow 1997, p. 74.
- ^ "Designation Systems". users.skynet.be.
- ^ "CF-100 Veterans Reunite." Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Comox Valley Echo, 18 September 1998. Retrieved: 7 February 2010.
- ^ Baglow pp 101-113
- ^ "English Electric Canberra B-57 Prototype." Archived July 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 7 February 2010.
- ^ Baugher, Joe. " Martin B-57A." USAAC/USAAF/USAF Bomber Aircraft-Third Series, 13 August 2006. Retrieved: 7 February 2010.
- ^ Baglow, pp 101-121
- ^ Milberry 1984, p 320.
- ^ Services Simple, Brief and Sad for Five Victims of Air Crash The Montreal Gazette, 15 August 1953 Retrieved: 11 March 2020
- ^ "Grostenquin, France - 423 Squadron History." c-and-e-museum.org, Retrieved: 30 July 2018.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Avro CanadaCF-100, s/n 18534 CAF, c/n C-100/5/434". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
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- ^ "CF 100". Bomber Command Museum of Canada. Nanton Lancaster Society. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
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- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Avro Canada CF-100Mk 5 Canuck, s/n 18746 CAF, c/n C-100/5/646". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
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- ^ "Aviation". Reynolds Museum. Government of Alberta. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Avro CanadaCF-100, s/n 18761 RCAF". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "Canuck". National Air Force Museum of Canada. National Air Force Museum of Canada. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
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- ^ "CF-100 Canuck". Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum. Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
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- ^ "AVRO CANADA CF-100 MK.5D (100757)". Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Ingenium. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
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- ^ Taylor and Alexander 1969, p. 51.
Bibliography
- Baglow, Bob. Canucks Unlimited: Royal Canadian Air Force CF-100 Squadrons and Aircraft, 1952–1963. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canuck Publications 1985. ISBN 0-9692246-0-5.
- Dow, James. The Arrow. James Lorimer & Company, 1997. ISBN 1-5502855-4-8.
- Henley, Don (March–April 1997). "Singular Customer: Belgium and the Avro Canada CF-100". ISSN 0143-5450.
- Lyzun, Jim. CF-100 Canuck. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: SMS Publishing, 1985. ISBN 0-920375-04-9.
- ISBN 0-9690703-0-6.
- Milberry, Larry. Sixty Years, The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984. CANAV Books, 1984. ISBN 0-07-549484-1.
- Page, Ron. Canuck: CF-100 All Weather Fighter. Erin, Ontario, Canada: Boston Mills Press, 1981. ISBN 0-919822-39-8.
- Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander.Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-71810-564-8.
- Whitcomb, Randall L. Cold War Tech War: The Politics of America's Air Defense. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Apogee Books, 2008. ISBN 978-1-894959-77-3.