Known for its speed and manoeuvrability, the twin turbojet Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck was tailored to suit the primary mission of intercepting and engaging potential aerial threats in all weather conditions.
Paying homage to the ingenuity of Canadian Aviation Manufacturing directs us to the forerunner of the infamous Arvo Arrow. The design team cut their teeth on the CF-100, establishing Canada with world leading original concepts and production in the aviation manufacturing industry. It led a long and spectacular history of Canada’s first all-weather fighter designed and built by Canadians.
Embrace the legacy, celebrate the history, and pay respect to the remarkable aircraft that patrolled the skies and captured the hearts of a nation; the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck.
Canadian Aviation took a significant world leadership in the 1950ties with rapid advancement in design and production at the Avro Canada (A.V. Roe Company) plant in Malton, Ontario. For the first time in the early 1950ties and Canada’s aviation history, aircraft engines were being manufactured alongside the aircraft in which they were used.
Known for its speed and manoeuvrability, the twin turbojet Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck presented the first signs of the inevitable spectacular performance results, during its maiden flight on January 19, 1950. Canadian born pilot, Bill Waterton was delegated with the honour of the first flight of the Canuck, 11 years after he had left Canada to fight in WWII for the R.A.F.
The Mark 1 and Mark II prototypes of the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck shaped up to be the most versatile combat planes developed since WWII. It was significant that the first all-Canadian aircraft of the post war period, was an all-weather jet fighter with exceptional long range, fire power, manoeuvrability and rate of climb - Plus Transonic Speed.
In 1952 revered pilot Jan Żurakowski, who later pioneered flights in the Avro Arrow, took the CF-100 Canuck MK 4 up to Mach 1.10 in a dive from 14,000 m (45,000 ft) to achieve the first controlled straight-winged jet aircraft supersonic flight.
Although it was developed for defensive assignments over the vast reaches of the North American rim and strategic far north air routes over the top of the world and Arctic working closely with the radar defence network, the CF-100 Canuck had exceptional capacity for offensive assignments and interception of enemy bombers.
The CF-100 Canuck jet interceptor served with thirteen RCAF and Canadian Armed Forces squadrons across nearly 30 years of service. With predominant contribution to the North American Air Defence Command it also served in Europe with bases in Germany and France.
693 Canucks were manufactured in Canada. Mass production ran from 1952 until 1958 in anticipation of the Avro Arrow’s production run which was ultimately cancelled in 1959. The Canuck were used in active duty until 1981 where is was retired in North Bay, Ontario, the home of its first squadron service – No.3 AW(F) OTU an operational training unit for future CF-100 squadrons. The CF-100 Canuck was flown by 13 Royal Canadian Airforce and Armed Forces Squadrons, the Belgium Airforce and used in NATO missions.
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MOVEMENT : Swiss Automatic (self-winding) Sellita SW200-1| 26 jewels | Frequency 28,800 A/h (4 Hz), 38 hours power reserve, Day Display
CASE : Diameter 39mm / Inner 34mm. Aircraft Grade Titanium | 46mm Lug to Lug Height | 20mm Lug Width
CRYSTAL : Scratch resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside
CROWN : Screw down crown with Whitby Watch Co. brand mark
CASEBACK : Open Display Caseback with Sapphire Crystal
LUME FEATURES : C3 Super-LumiNova ® filled indices, coated hands and markers (Type B inner filled ring)
WATER RESISTANCE : "10 Bar (100 metres / 330 ft)
STRAP : Italian Leather and Whitby Watch Co. brand marks. *Blue Suede Upgrade available for select variations
In 1951 with the first two prototypes having been powered Rolls Royce Avon engines, Canadian dignitaries quickly moved into requests for continued production runs using the well tested Canadian made Orenda gas turbine engines. With several thousand hours of ground tests, some of unprecedented length, the Orenda was flight tested in an Avro Lancaster
and an American F-86 Sabre fighter. It was the successor to the Avro Chinook, the first jet engine designed and built in Canada that was primarily developed in the pursuit of improved design and supply of larger engines for the RCAF.
The Orenda was developed in only 4.5 years becoming the first turbojet engine to be put into quality production in Canada and firmly established the Canadian engine industry in competitive world markets.
Swiss Automatic Sellita SW200-1
From manufacturing the ETA 2824 to making their very own outstanding and reliable movement, Sellita is moving from strength to strength. As trusted by Oris, Sinn, Christopher Ward and many other recognizable brands. Here's why:
• 26 Jewels
• 28,800 bph, 4Hz
• Power Reserve 38 hours
• Lift Angle 50 degrees Vibrations per hour
• Hacking and Hand-Windable
• Hours, minutes, central sweeping seconds, date
Credits:
We would like to acknowledge and reference the information sources and photographs supporting our narrative of the CF-100 Canuck Pilot Watch.
Canuck: CF-100 All Weather Fighter; Ron D. Page | Published by the Boston Mills Press 1981 | Various Photography credits include the Air Forces Photographic Unit, Dave Roberts, Ken Barnes and Others.
Flying Magazine: September 1951 Issue |Published by Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
Canadian War Plane Heritage Museum
Anticipated Resource:The Avro CF-100; Larry Milberry | Published by CANAVBooks 1981
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