The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck was the solitary combat plane conceived and produced in Canada, exemplifying the country’s previous ability in the aerospace field.

Referring to the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck, the only Canadian-built combat plane to be mass-produced, the term “Canuck” is sometimes used as a fond nickname for Canadians. Its prototype was debugged before the CF-100 Canuck made its inaugural flight on January 19, 1950, and it was officially commissioned by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1952, serving until 1981, with a total of 693 units built. Avro Canada, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the country, constructed the aircraft before going bankrupt in 1962.

The CF-100 Canuck was a Canadian jet interceptor airplane produced by Avro Canada in the 1950s, manned by two crew members, and powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines, which enabled it to reach a top speed of over 800 mph. It was 53 feet wide and 48 feet long, with a maximum range of roughly 1,000 miles and could reach a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet. Armed with eight 0.50-inch machine guns, it could transport up to 4,000 pounds of bombs or rockets. Around 692 CF-100s were made and utilized by the Royal Canadian Air Force and other international air forces, with a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 28,000 pounds. Its straight wing with a high aspect ratio design ensured it had excellent low-speed maneuverability.

The aircraft’s cockpit was pressurized, allowing the crew to fly at high altitudes for extended periods without requiring supplementary oxygen. The CF-100 was outfitted with a radar system that could detect enemy planes up to 50 miles away and had an advanced fire control system that enabled the pilot to track and engage several targets at the same time. It was also employed as a testing platform for experimental weapons systems, such as air-to-air missiles and rocket pods. The CF-100 was phased out in the early 1980s, being gradually replaced by more advanced fighter planes like the CF-18 Hornet, and today, a few CF-100s are on display in museums and aviation collections all over the world.

Although it was the best all-weather fighter during its time, the CF-100 Canuck was never involved in air-to-air or air-to-ground combat. It was viewed as the only fighter used by NATO forces in Europe for a time. The CF-100 was replaced by the American McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo, an all-weather supersonic fighter, in 1963, but it continued to serve in electronic countermeasures and training roles.

The CF-100 Canuck is a significant milestone in Canadian aeronautical history, demonstrating the nation’s ability and competence in the aerospace engineering sector. Despite never seeing combat, the CF-100 Canucks preserved in museums and static displays worldwide are a testament to Canada’s pride and innovation in the aircraft industry’s past, as well as a symbol of the country’s contributions to global technology and defense. The Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta, and the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia, are among the museums that proudly showcase the Canuck.