Considering how delta wings are still used on most fighter jets today, each stage of development is a massive part of not just aviation history, but Canadian history as well. With all six full-sized aircrafts destroyed by the government to prevent any spies from stealing their work, these prototypes were all that was left.
Erin Gregory of the Canada Aviation & Space Museum explained the importance of finding the final prototype saying, “The delta wing was a relatively new concept at that point, so it required a lot of testing to determine whether it would perform well, particularly at supersonic speeds.”
Amazing Canadians...
Canadians watched as history was made right in front of their eyes. The thought of bringing the Avro Arrows to the surface of the lake kept everyone on edge. David Shea was excited for the exploration team using new technology to achieve the mission. He expressed his feelings in an interview.
“I think being able to showcase using cutting-edge Canadian technology — being our sonar systems and underwater vehicles — to actually find and resurrect cutting edge Canadian technology… I think it’s an amazing example of what we can do as Canadians looking back at our history.”
The Missing Piece Of The Puzzle
There was a significant delay before the exploration team could show off their discovery, though. While they had found several Avro Arrow prototypes, they hadn’t found them all.
Of course, one of the prototypes they couldn’t find was the ninth one, and the model considered the Holy Grail. As the most advanced model made, the team felt their collection wouldn’t be complete until they found every last one. For this reason, the search continued.
The First Prototype Is Recovered
It was finally time for the expedition team to celebrate. They had successfully recovered the first Avro Arrow prototype from the bottom of the lake. The news was announced on their Facebook page.
“We are pleased to announce that the first historical relic of the Avro Arrow free-flight program has been recovered." They explained how it had been delivered back at CFB Trenton on August 13, 2018, after 64 years of resting on the bed of Lake Ontario.
Holding Onto Hope
Despite this good news, the rest of the Avro Arrow prototypes still hadn’t been found. All those involved in the expedition, including Osisko Mining, Kraken Sonar, OEX Recovery Group Incorporated, and the Canadian public, continue to hold onto hope that they will one day be found.
The ninth prototype, the Holy Grail, may still be just a dream, but no one is giving up. “Raise The Arrow” won’t stop their search until the last airplane model is found in the waters of Lake Ontario.