StraGen410
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I have been reconsidering about the potential of Avro Arrow and its related Canadian made weapon systems
After looking at its early cold war era background history for multiple times, I have come to this conclusion below:
To be honest, it was really difficult to find an effective combat role for the large delta wing interceptor plane to fit inside NATO’s aerial tactics and strategies against the Eastern Bloc.
There were already several better and more versatile competitors like Mcdonell F-4 Phantom II as well as the rapid development in ICBM technology at its time, so it was getting more difficult to gain governmental approval for official RCAF service and mass production. Moreover, its prototypes never armed with guns.
Avro Arrow CF-105 is merely a glorified propaganda until today
However, I can think a reasonable “ What if” for CF-105 to barely survive after the 1960.
Instead of being a fast Tu-95 killer, I believe its design can be evolved into an all weather long range , high speed ( Mach 2 class ) , high altitude reconnaissance aircraft with black paint job for spying the Soviet airspace. It stood between U-2 Dragon Lady and SR-71 Blackbird. Also similar to the transition between Yak-25 and Yak-25RV.
The wings and the aircraft structure would be further redesigned and enhanced. The powerful Orenda Iroquois would also be modified in order to get used to the higher altitude environment for the U-2 and SR-71 type reconnaissance flight. The pilot would wear the astronaut style suit instead.
The original F-102 “ pyramid head “ style canopy and F-4 style air intake designs would be replaced by another new and different designs in F-105D Thunderchief style for better vision and flight performance. RCAF had a plan to purchase both Arrows and Orenda Iroquois powered Thunderchiefs ( AP-63-19E ) for replacing all the older and outdated subsonic fighter jets like F-86 and CF-100, and I would choose to let the Thuds to take the multiple roles of all weather interceptor, nuclear bomber, ground attacker and low altitude reconnaissance aircraft in RCAF, so it might made the maintenance job easier as well as help beautifying the air fleet’s image.
Due to Canada’s limited resources and global influence, I believe 15 Avro Arrow reconnaissance variant aircrafts and 3 trainer variant aircrafts were good enough for the early 1960s RCAF. But after the 1964, a further numbers of new CF-105 EW variant would be introduced into the air force too.
For the project of Velvet Glove air to air missile and its related SARH system to survive in the same “What if” story,
it need to be separate from the Avro Arrow project , evolve into a short range surface to air missile with structural enhancement in AIM-7 Sparrow style and became one of the world’s first mobile SAM system by fusing with a lengthen, modified XA-20 APC chassis ( Around 50 km/h in road speed ). Due to the restriction in technology and theory at its time, a Self-propelled launch vehicle variant arming with 4 missiles and a separated Semi-active radar station vehicle variant using a data link ( through a more efficient design of either British or American origin ) were created. These new rear engined tracked SAM vehicles would be operated by the Canadian Army and most of them would be deployed in West Germany, along with a bit higher potential to export to other NATO and anti-communist allies for new military market opportunity.
That’s all for my almost realistic “ What if ”
If you are interested in my alternate Avro Arrow science fiction fantasy, feel free to help further enhancing the topic.
If you don’t like my text post, please forgive me and forget about it for me!
Have a nice day!
After looking at its early cold war era background history for multiple times, I have come to this conclusion below:
To be honest, it was really difficult to find an effective combat role for the large delta wing interceptor plane to fit inside NATO’s aerial tactics and strategies against the Eastern Bloc.
There were already several better and more versatile competitors like Mcdonell F-4 Phantom II as well as the rapid development in ICBM technology at its time, so it was getting more difficult to gain governmental approval for official RCAF service and mass production. Moreover, its prototypes never armed with guns.
Avro Arrow CF-105 is merely a glorified propaganda until today
However, I can think a reasonable “ What if” for CF-105 to barely survive after the 1960.
Instead of being a fast Tu-95 killer, I believe its design can be evolved into an all weather long range , high speed ( Mach 2 class ) , high altitude reconnaissance aircraft with black paint job for spying the Soviet airspace. It stood between U-2 Dragon Lady and SR-71 Blackbird. Also similar to the transition between Yak-25 and Yak-25RV.
The wings and the aircraft structure would be further redesigned and enhanced. The powerful Orenda Iroquois would also be modified in order to get used to the higher altitude environment for the U-2 and SR-71 type reconnaissance flight. The pilot would wear the astronaut style suit instead.
The original F-102 “ pyramid head “ style canopy and F-4 style air intake designs would be replaced by another new and different designs in F-105D Thunderchief style for better vision and flight performance. RCAF had a plan to purchase both Arrows and Orenda Iroquois powered Thunderchiefs ( AP-63-19E ) for replacing all the older and outdated subsonic fighter jets like F-86 and CF-100, and I would choose to let the Thuds to take the multiple roles of all weather interceptor, nuclear bomber, ground attacker and low altitude reconnaissance aircraft in RCAF, so it might made the maintenance job easier as well as help beautifying the air fleet’s image.
Due to Canada’s limited resources and global influence, I believe 15 Avro Arrow reconnaissance variant aircrafts and 3 trainer variant aircrafts were good enough for the early 1960s RCAF. But after the 1964, a further numbers of new CF-105 EW variant would be introduced into the air force too.
For the project of Velvet Glove air to air missile and its related SARH system to survive in the same “What if” story,
it need to be separate from the Avro Arrow project , evolve into a short range surface to air missile with structural enhancement in AIM-7 Sparrow style and became one of the world’s first mobile SAM system by fusing with a lengthen, modified XA-20 APC chassis ( Around 50 km/h in road speed ). Due to the restriction in technology and theory at its time, a Self-propelled launch vehicle variant arming with 4 missiles and a separated Semi-active radar station vehicle variant using a data link ( through a more efficient design of either British or American origin ) were created. These new rear engined tracked SAM vehicles would be operated by the Canadian Army and most of them would be deployed in West Germany, along with a bit higher potential to export to other NATO and anti-communist allies for new military market opportunity.
That’s all for my almost realistic “ What if ”
If you are interested in my alternate Avro Arrow science fiction fantasy, feel free to help further enhancing the topic.
If you don’t like my text post, please forgive me and forget about it for me!
Have a nice day!
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