Avro Canada CF-103

The Avro Canada CF‑103 was a supersonic interceptor prototype conceived in the early 1950s as a follow‑on to the successful CF‑100 Canuck. Designed by Avro Canada under the direction of chief engineer James C. Floyd, the aircraft embodied the nation’s ambition to field a jet capable of defending North America’s northern approaches against high‑speed Soviet bombers. The CF‑103 featured a sleek, low‑drag delta‑wing planform, a pressurised cockpit with a clear canopy, and twin Rolls‑Royce Avon turbo‑jet engines mounted within a blended fuselage, delivering a combined thrust of roughly 20,000 lb. Its design incorporated swept leading edges, a NACA 6‑series airfoil, and a sophisticated all‑moving tailplane intended to provide stability at transonic speeds. Although ground‑tested and partially assembled, the prototype never achieved flight; development was halted in 1954 when the Royal Canadian Air Force opted for the more advanced CF‑105 Arrow, a larger delta‑wing interceptor with superior performance. Despite its brief existence, the CF‑103 represented a pivotal step in Canada’s transition from subsonic fighters to the cutting‑edge jet age, providing valuable aerodynamic data and engineering experience that informed later Avro Canada projects and contributed to North American aerospace development.