AVRO CF-100 "Canuck"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for December, 1953
by Jo Kotula
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The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the Clunk) was a Canadian jet fighter serving during the Cold War. It was the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production.

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Photos of the AVRO CF-100 "Canuck"
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In the early 1950s, Canada needed an interceptor (fighter) able to patrol the vast areas of Canada's north and operate in all weather conditions. The two-seat fighter crewed by a pilot and navigator, was designed with two powerful engines and an advanced radar and fire control system housed in its nose that enabled it to fly in all-weather or night conditions. For its day, the CF-100 featured a short takeoff run and high climb rate, making it well suited to its role as an interceptor. The CF-100 was not considered to be truly supersonic since it could not exceed the speed of sound in level flight. However, on 18 December 1952, S/L Janusz Zurakowski, the Avro company chief development test pilot, broke the sound barrier flying the CF-100 Mk 4 prototype in a dive from 30,000 feet.

Here is a video of the AVRO CF-100 "Canuck" in action:

In addition to the cover of Model Airplane News, this airplane was also featured in the WINGS "Friend or Foe" trading card series of the early 1950s

Trading card representation of the AVRO CF-100 "Canuck"
Click Here to see all 200 cards in the series
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Jo Kotula revisited this airplane in the "Box Art" for the Aurora kit for the AVRO CF-100 "Canuck".

Aurora Plastic Model of the AVRO CF-100 "Canuck"
Artwork by Jo Kotula
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Click Here for more information about the AVRO CF-100 "Canuck".

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