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[A reprint from the original report of Ed Anderson-subject to a few edit changes-published in "Contact", the British Columbia Aviation Council Report supplement, to West Coast Aviator Magazine, Sept./Oct. 1997]
For those of us present, the event was indeed like a phoenix rising, reflecting the dawn of what could have been Canada's greatest contribution to aviation and aerospace in general, at least that is, in the opinion of many, this writer included. The Abbotsford International Airshow Society hosted the special debut of the 'Arrow' on Friday, July 25, as a prelude to its headliner appearance at the 1997 edition of the Abbotsford International Airshow. By the time everything was in sync, the band at their best, and an impassioned introduction from Mr. Dave Holmberg, 1st Vice President of the Board of Directors, the clock was on past 7 when the flap panels of the big tent-like hangar -&endash;courtesy of B.C. Silo and Tank/Cover All Shelter Systems &endash; were opened to reveal the faint outline of history. The crew appeared to address every detail necessary to ensure an appropriate and striking roll-out presentation. Mission Accomplished. 'Twas an awesome sight!! Just simply magnificent, was 25201 in its vision splendor, no better represented than by the replica before us as it moved slowly forward &endash; under power of D.C. electric motors on the main wheels &endash; onto the tarmac and into soft evening sunlight to the applause of the waiting crowd. Forty years before, it must have been such an overwhelming sense of joy and accomplishment for the thousands who had devoted themselves to the creation of a time and a phenomenal example of revolutionary design and engineering achievement. No prototypes, no peers, still envied today, and still a formidable concept. Length, approximately 80 feet, 50 foot wingspan, 21 feet plus in height, and a delta wing area of 1225 square feet. Two Pratt & Whitney J75 jet engines producing 18,500 pounds of thrust for a maximum speed of mach 2 + to a ceiling of 65,000 feet. Not too shabby! All of the Mk.I performance stats would have been by all accounts surpassed, had the MkII Arrow, equipped with the Iroquois engines made it to flying status. Anyway, history to history lest we become wrapped in more remarkable aspects of this great aeroplane. Allan Jackson of Wetaskiwin, Alberta believed so strongly in keeping alive those golden years of Canadian aviation he alone tackled a dream in 1989. Without official plans, no aviation background, space or funding, he began one piece at a time. Six painstaking years later his efforts led to an almost completed full scale mockup of RL201 excluding, of course, engines. Then along came an offer in 1996 for the magical 'Arrow' to appear in a four hour CBC television mini-series about the victory and the tragedy of Canada's Airplane, starring veteran actor Dan Aykroyd portraying the Avro dynamo, Crawford Gordon Jr. The 'Jackson Arrow' was then trucked to Winnipeg, Manitoba where the replication was completed into a film ready CF-105, four years ahead of Jackson's planned completion date. "The Arrow was back," and with it some interesting trivia items: - first fly by wire aircraft with first 4,000 p.s.i. hydraulic system (flying) - Mk. III Arrow had a planned max. speed of Mach 3 and combat ceiling of 68,000 ft. - planned climb rate for the Mk. III Arrow from sea level was 60,000 ft. per minute - 97 percent of the parts were on hand for the first 37 Arrows at cancellation of the project. Unfortunately at productions end, albeit that the CBC had made it a 'movie Arrow', the rather exuberant cleanup crew disassembled the fuselage and the components with cutting torches, before shipping the work of art back to Allan Jackson. Kind of ironic one might say remembering only too well, "Black Friday" February 20, 1959. Regardless of the setback, Jackson spent a further eight months repairing the damage. Then again a new breath of life. The Abbotsford Airshow Society expressed an interest in having the replica appear at their International Airshow in August 1997. So, with collective dedication and hard work, an army of volunteers, including technical and other support from Canadian Forces Base Comox, the Museum of Flight, Langley, B.C., and a host of sponsors led by the Ford and Mercury Dealers of B.C., the full scale replica 'Arrow' rose again, fully reconstructed like new, and transported to the Abbotsford International Airport, ready for the official unveiling. Allan Jackson and his 'Arrow' went on to enjoy overwhelming recognition and appreciation from the tremendous crowds of aviation/airshow fans who turned out over the three days of the 'Abbotsford August Airshow'. Reproduced by Ed Anderson February 25, 2003, for AirHighways of the World Magazine, "Salute to the 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight" For further information one can log onto www. Avro Arrow |
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