Five things to know about the Avro Arrow fighter jet program

TORONTO — Five things to know about the much vaunted but secretive Avro Arrow fighter jet program that was scrapped in 1959:

— The CF-105, known as the Avro Arrow, was a globally leading-edge interceptor aircraft designed and built by Avro Canada in the 1950s.

— The jet could fly at Mach 1.9 speeds at heights of up to 15,000 metres.

— The first of five Arrows built was rolled out to the public Oct. 4, 1957, the same day as the Soviets launched Sputnik I.

— The Arrow, about 23.71 metres long with a 15.24-metre wingspan, first flew March 25, 1958.

— The Conservative government scrapped the Arrow program on Feb. 20, 1959, and ordered destruction of the aircraft and related materials.

SOURCE: Arrow Recovery Canada

The Canadian Press