posted 12-06- 09:39 PM               

Speaking of Canadian aircraft we need.

Avro CF-100 Canuck

In service for over 30 years, the Avro CF-100 (known as the "Clunk") twin engine interceptor, was one of Canada's greatest aviation success stories. It was the only Canadian designed fighter to go into mass production

Canuck Mk. 5D 100785, repainted in the original black and white paint scheme of the first CF-100 prototype for the retirement party at CFB North Bay, Ontario in September 1981. The aircraft was struck off strength on 8 December, 1981 and is currently preserved at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. One explanation offered for the Canuck's nickname of "Clunk" was that it was too strong and thus too heavy for its original role as an all-weather fighter interceptor. As proof of this it is pointed out that the original RCAF airframe life expectancy of 2,000 was later found to be easily doubled or tripled, with an ultimate life to destruction of close to 20,000 hours. This doubling of the expected airframe life led the RCAF to proceed to convert and modify a number of aircraft to reconnaisance, training, and Electronic Warfare roles after the fleet was replaced in its original duties by the Voodoo.

The Canuck was the first jet fighter produced entirely in Canada from the design stage up to the completed product, and was also the world's first straight-wing combat aircraft to exceed Mach 1. On 4 November, 1956 445 Squadron of the RCAF, equipped with CF-100 Mk. 4Bs, arrived in France to become the first unit in NATO to fly multi-seat all-weather fighters, later three further squadrons of Mk. 4Bs were added to the Canadian contingent in Europe during 1957, remaining until 1962. In December of 1957 delivery began of 53 ex-RCAF Mk.5s to the Belgian Air Force where they once more gave long and useful service as they had in the RCAF.