After Canadian leaders caught wind of the Soviet Union’s new aircraft, they immediately got to work. They launched the A. V. Roe Canada Limited, a company that is now known as Avro Canada. They employed a group of engineers that were committed to coming up with something even better, something that would top the Soviets.
What they came up with was better than the Canadian leaders could have ever hoped for. In the 1950s, they built the Avro CF-100 Canuck, a fighter jet-like no other. It was nicknamed the Clunk, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it was a piece of junk. The new aircrafts remained active in the Canadian military until the 1980s.
The Cold War
Their search continued into the Cold War, which started in 1947. Each side prepared for a big battle; however, it never happened. The war ended in 1991 without a single battle, hence the name, Cold War.
With the threat of an invasion hanging over the world for decades, leaders remained on edge. With democracy ruling the West and Communism ruling the East, third world countries did their best to stay neutral.
Nuclear Threats
With the emerging creation of atomic bombs, both sides of the Cold War could devastate the other. Even though they all knew that stooping to such a level result in irreversible mass destruction, they still used it as a threat.
During these times, many countries felt that the only way to remain safe and untouched by enemy fire was to possess superior weapons. For example, during this time, the USSR built an aircraft large enough to transport their weapons to the United States and Canada, flying over the Arctic. This made temporarily put them in the lead.
The Soviets Pull Ahead
As the Canadians were working on the Clunk, the Soviets also had something new in the works. In 1952 the Royal Canadian Air Force received new intelligence that the Soviets were yet again one step ahead.
As it turned out, they were working on another aircraft, one that was rumored to be a highly destructive beast that could wipe the Canadians off the map in a matter of seconds. While the threat was real, the Soviets would need another seven years to get it ready. Canada still had some time to catch up, and they used it wisely.
New and Improved
The Avro CF-100 Canuck was ready for its very first launch flight in 1950. While some cheered the fighter jet’s first flight, others were watching the aircraft for ways it could be improved. What resulted from their analysis was the creation of an airplane like no other!
The Royal Canadian Air Force quickly put together a report detailing how the design of Avro CF-100 Canuck could be improved upon. It was titled RCAF's Final Report of the All-Weather Interceptor Requirements Team, also referred to as the Avro Arrow. Once the engineers had it in hand, they went straight to work!