Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Interceptors

Another look at the Harrier to start things today, quite sleek and elegant.


A superb fighter: the CF-116A.


Side by side, two wonders. The first, in the foreground, is the Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter.


The crest near the cockpit caught my eye, featuring Hercules slaying the hydra.


Beside it and mounted above is the nose section of an Avro Arrow. This was a Canadian military innovation program of the 1950s meant to serve as an all-weather interceptor. The program was cancelled by the Diefenbaker government at the time in what was a bone-headed decision, and nearly all of the aircraft were destroyed. This nose section, along with a few pieces in other locations that are less recognizable, is all that's left.

38 comments:

  1. I wonder what it must be like too fly in one of those fighter aircraft. There is a beauty to their sleek design.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think when I was 20 I would have dared to fly such an engine !

    ReplyDelete
  3. That plane looks like a swordfish!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Buenos diseños de la aviación. Son elegantes y tienen una buena velocidad.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ...they look to be up for the job.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That Diefenbaker decision on the Avro Arrow was as bad as was ever committed by a politician, and that's saying simething.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The tragedy of the Avro Arrow was something Dief never lived down.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Fun60: I agree.

    @Italiafinlandia: indeed.

    @Gattina: it takes the young to do it.

    @roentare: more than one does.

    @Ventana: thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. @Iris: definitely.

    @Tom: they do.

    @Francisco: thanks.

    @David: it was just plain dumb.

    @Marie: for good reason.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Avro Arrow fiasco put many members of my family out of work.

    ReplyDelete
  11. There are some wicked looking machines in these photos.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I remember the Starfighter being the fighter jet of the Royal Air Force in the 60's and 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @RedPat: fiasco is appropriate.

    @Nancy: they really are.

    @Sharon: definitely.

    @Jan: it got around.

    @happyone: thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you for a fascinating tour of the museum, William. Your photography is so crisp and sharp. Thank you for your continued visits to my blog. Regards Jo

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amazing flying machines, great series William!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've been looking at the war machines posted from Ukraine on Twitter. Crazy changes. Drones and all.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love learning about these amazing machines from you. And the stuff painted on them, too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. @Jo: you're welcome.

    @Denise: thank you.

    @Jennifer: things change.

    @DJan: they have character.

    @Bill: they do.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great aviation designs and photos ~


    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I really like the last one, it has like such a sharp point.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The Avro Arrow controversy was a big issue at the time.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I like that crest too. It's really well done.

    ReplyDelete