I feel a little silly that some time ago I brashly wrote to the Numa site asking why the Sea Hunters had not sought the Avro Arrow Test models that are on the bottom of Lake Ontario. For those who aren't familiar with the Arrow...It was Canada's first and last Supersonic Jet fighter. Designed in the mid-50's, it took to the air in 1958 and broke every record. It had the capability with the new Orenda Iroquois engines of breaking Mach 2.5. Unfortunately, Political tides turned and the multi-million dollar project was scrapped. All drawings burning and all 6 planes, cut up into pieces. It is an episode that still haunts the consciousness of all Canadian's.
Well..to make a long story short, the Arrow program did test model flights where 10 foot plus models were mounted on the end of Nike missles. Testing for aero-dynamics, the 9 models hit the water and remain at the bottom of a small section of the Lake. There have been numerous and very recent attempts to find the models but having been a Canadian Military missle range, there are over 600 missles on the bottom.
So..being a true Cusslerite, I thought to suggest to the Sea Hunter crew, that they might throw their oar in. Well...I should have waited two weeks because there on the Front Cover of Canadian Aviation this month is a Headline "Hunt for the Arrow" with our daring team of Sea Hunters taking up a couple of pages in the magazine. From the article, it seems they went looking last October. I unfortunately didn't get to read the article, due to a pesky plane calling me away. I'm looking forward to what they were able to find. I know the Canadian Navy was looking again this year so I'm very interested.

Sorry to go on so...(Especially being a newbie eh)
But again...My salute to Clive for working with the Sea Hunters to try and find
a piece of the Canadian heart and imagination.

Cheers
Kilgour Trout

That's great, thanks for sharing :)

Shame about that plane calling you away :lol:

Fascinating story!

I'm surprised the government would allow divers to sift through all those spent missiles. And the other thought I had was what condition would those models be in after hitting the water at super-sonic speed?

Cheers ... p:

The question about hitting the water at SuperSonic is a good one. They've been able to find the Nike missle component in fairly recognizable condition but the Plane component could be either better or worse. Some think that once the model lost power it may have tumbled to below SS. The models were built pretty hardy but they can't be sure. Other missles have been found in recognizable states..So it's a hope. One thing that came out a recent search was the discovery of an almost perfectly preserved Schooner from the late 1700's-mid 1800's. The cold water tend to lock things in time.

I'll try and keep tabs on things.

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

Great story! I recently learned of the Canadian governments involvement in this from a movie I believe was made for HBO. Dan Akroyd was in it. Quite fascinating how the change of political parties sealed the fate of this plane. I'd love to hear more.

Cheers beer:

This movie was produced, I think, for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, or CBC. I think it has been rerun on BBC America, as well as CBC numerous times.
Kilgour Trout summed up the Avro's history extremely well.
An interesting site on the Arrow can be found HERE.

Most Interesting!!!! :)

Very interesting. I've never even heard of it, so I'll have to do some research.

Is this one you're talking about?

Regarding the Arrow Models. Just this past July the Canadian Government tried to find them as a training exercise. All they found was an old wooden ship that the Sea Hunters found last year and a local Arrow Hunter found years ago. Since I live in the local area, I've been interested in this for some time. There is an article in the Belleville Intelligencer from last fall about the search by Sea Hunters. I have a copy and will find out the date and see if it is in the papers online archives. I'm still hoping to hear that Clive and crew were coming back this fall, but I guess not, or like before we'll know after they've been here. For your research I'll get you the official Arvo-Arrow website and some other things that I don't have in my office right now. More to come!!

Websites:
www.avroarrow.org
www.maverick2.com
www3.sympatico.ca/mkostiuk/arrow.html
www.avro-arrow.org
www.angelfire.com/ab/arvoarrow/frames.html

I'll keep my ears and eyes open up here in "the county" for any more news!!

th: Excellent, thanks for the links Jilly!

Well I found my copy of the news article from the Belleville Intelligence. It's dated November 1 2003. The picture was of James Delgado, the sea hunter crew and local Arrow hunter - Dave Gartshore. There is no archive to draw on, on their website.
Also the Toronto Star had info on this years exploits of the Canadian Government. Its dated July 6, 2004. To get into their archives, it'll cost ya. "torstar" Now rumour has it that the Canuck navy did find something else beside the booster rockets, and are not telling!! I'm really hoping that something positive comes out of this whole search for the things!! If you want a copy of the movie, I think that the CBC has it in their online store. As I said before, if I hear anything else, because its local news/history, I'll let the forum know!!

Hey Jilly: Thanks for the contribution on the Arrow. I'm currently in my office looking at a print of it hanging on my wall. Maybe you know the one. The Arrow flys head on at you, out of a vertical climb. It is a beauty....
I thinks its quite possible our navy did come up with something but due to all the legal wrangling their keeping it under their hats. I hope so....we could use a National boost these days.

Are you from Toronto by any chance? There is still alot to see of Arrow history down there. I knew two gentlemen who helped build the plane and I only wish I had asked them to take me to some of the facilities where it was built.

I'll equally keep my ears open for any news.

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout