Avro Arrow Program Cancelled – Black Friday 20-Feb-1959

On 20-Feb-1959, the the Canadian government, under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, cancelled the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow supersonic interceptor program. This decision immediately resulted in the layoff of over 14,000 workers and the eventual destruction of all completed aircraft, engines, and blueprints, causing a severe, long-term impact on Canada’s aerospace industry. 

Key Facts About the Avro Arrow’s “Black Friday”:

• The Cancellation: On Feb. 20, 1959, the government announced the end of the program, citing high costs ($1.1 billion total) and a shift in defense strategy toward missiles over manned bombers.
• Immediate Impact: The same day,14,000 employees were laid off immediately, with thousands more in the supply chain losing work, which became known as “Black Friday” in the industry.
• Destruction of Evidence: Within months, all five completed aircraft, components (including the Orenda Iroquois engine), and all technical data were ordered destroyed.
• The “Brain Drain”: Many of the top engineers from Avro went on to work for NASA on the Apollo program or in Britain on the Concorde project.
• Last Flight: The last test flight occurred on February 19, 1959, just one day before the announcement, with chief test pilot “Spud” Potocki flying the RL-201 at speeds reaching Mach 1.75.
• Legacy: The Arrow was considered one of the most advanced aircraft in the world at the time of its, featuring a fly-by-wire system.