HOME

ARROW - From Dream to Destruction

Why was the Arrow project killed? Who ordered the destruction of the completed Arrows and why? These questions and more are explored in this thought provoking account of Canada's greatest aviation achievement. "ARROW... From Dream to Destruction" is a sequel to Aviation Videos Ltd. very popular "AVRO ARROW...CF-105" produced in 1988.

This 60 minute video has been produced from over 10 hours of original Avro Aircraft colour film footage and is the most detailed look at the whole Arrow program to date. It makes an excellent companion to the 1988 production with minimal overlap of footage between the two productions. Close to 90% of the scenes feature new Avro footage, much of it never before seen by the public.

Coverage includes design, wind tunnel testing, free flight models, construction, ejector seat testing, roll out ceremonies, taxi trials, Arrow's first flight, and extensive coverage of the flight testing program. Superb historical footage of all five Arrows that flew. Also included is the Iroquois engine development, with B-47 engine test flights, and installation in Arrow 206. The Astra-Sparrow armament system, including actual Sparrow missile test launches is also featured. A wonderful collector's item.

Colour, 60 minutes

1114.....$29.95

BUILDING THE ARROW

Follow the Arrow's progression from the drawing board to the roll out ceremonies. See in detail how the Avro CF-105 Arrow was built as it moved down the assembly line. Produced from original Avro Aircraft colour film footage, it makes an excellent companion to any of our other Arrow videos. Coverage includes the Arrow's design, construction of wooden and metal mock-ups, construction of major components and their assembly into a complete Arrow.

Colour, 45 minutes

1119.....$24.95

AVRO ARROW ... CF-105 

A Short History

It was a plane 20 years ahead of its time, scrapped by a government that was out of touch with the times. Now the Arrow once again takes to the air, if only on your TV.

Compiled from rare colour film footage shot by Avro Aircraft this is a tribute to a great aircraft and to everyone who worked on it. See the Arrow from design through to its many test flights. Rare scenes include: design work, wind tunnel tests, model test flights, aircraft assembly, engine testing, and the Arrow's first flight. Beautiful shots of all five Arrows that were completed, and in the end, the Arrow's final destruction.

Colour, 32 minutes

1120.....$21.95

CF-105 ... Avro Arrow Enthusiast Edition

Even with our one hour video "ARROW, From Dream to Destruction" we still got requests for more footage on the Arrow. These requests came from modellers looking for more detailed information, to those who just could not get enough of a Canadian aircraft that was the best in the world. For all of the Arrowheads out there we have put together a special selection of 120 minutes of footage on the Arrow.

This SILENT two hour video was compiled from nine original Avro Aircraft 16mm films shot during the Arrow's construction and testing program. It contains excellent reference material with numerous scenes of the Arrow, including its ground support equipment.

The nine SILENT films, nearly all in colour are:
ARROW 202 IN FLIGHT,
ARROW GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT,
ARROW UNDERCARRIAGE,
ARROW 201 ENGINE TESTING,
FLYING ARROWS,
AVRO ARROW ASSEMBLY,
ARROW ESCAPE TRIALS,
3D MODEL OF ARROW PRODUCTION LINE, and
ARROW TAXI TRIALS.
 

Colour and B&W, 120 minutes, ALL SILENT

1115.....$29.95

AVROCAR...AVRO's Flying Saucer

The story of Avro's experimental "flying saucer", the Avrocar. It was the result of Avro's research into vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Research and development started in the mid 1950s but development was cancelled in 1961 after flight stability problems could not be overcome. Rare footage include: design and construction of the craft, wind tunnel tests, and many of its tethered and free flight tests.

Colour, 25 minutes

1118.....$20.95

AVRO LANCASTER ...

 The Story of the RCAF Lancaster

This video presentation is dedicated to the memory of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, V.C., and the over 18,000 airmen of the RCAF who gave their lives during World War II. It highlights the Canadian built Lancasters from their construction at Victory Aircraft through to their use by the RCAF during and following World War II. Scenes include the Lancaster's development from its start as the Manchester bomber, construction in Britain and Canada, bombing missions, sinking of the German battleship TIRPITZ, and post war use in Canada by the RCAF. Included in the WWII segment is the National Film Board of Canada production "TARGET BERLIN" which was released in 1944.

A special feature of the video covers the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's nine year restoration program of the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster. Scenes in this segment feature restoration work, test flights, the dedication ceremonies, takeoffs and landings, and air to air shots. Today, the Museum's Lancaster is the only one flying in North America, and one of only two still flying in the world.

This video is a co-production of Aviation Videos Limited and the National Film Board of Canada.

1121... $29.95

AVRO CANUCK ... CF-100 All Weather Interceptor

The CF-100 was Avro Aircraft's only aircraft to ever reach production. During 8 years of production 692 aircraft were built. In this film the CF-100 is seen from construction through to RCAF squadron use. Scenes include: assembly, test flights, rocket firing tests, and aerobatics. This video contains excellent air to air shots in addition to numerous takeoff and landings.

Colour, 24 minutes 

1116......$20.95 Canadian

AVRO JETLINER ... North America's First Jet Transport

The Avro Jetliner which first flew in 1949 was North America's first jet transport. Numerous U.S. airlines wanted it and the United States Air Force was ready to order 20 for use as high altitude navigational trainers. Even the legendary Howard Hughes was ready to buy 30 Jetliners for TWA. But in the end, only one Jetliner was ever completed and flown.

Design began on the Jetliner in 1946 and in the summer of 1949 the Avro Jetliner became the first jet passenger aircraft to fly in North America. With a seven year lead over the American competition, the Jetliner could easily have made Canada a world leader in the construction of jet passenger aircraft. But it was not to be.

Why was this? Why was such a revolutionary aircraft destroyed less than eight years after its first flight? These questions and more are answered in this 31 minute video production on the Avro Aircraft C-102 Jetliner. In the end, the Jetliner's failure to go into production proved to be as much a tragedy for the Canadian aircraft industry as the Avro Arrow's cancellation in 1959.

Scenes in this video include: Design work on the aircraft, construction of the two prototypes, the Jetliner's first flight, along with excellent air to air footage, and numerous take-offs and landing scenes from its many flights throughout the United States and Canada. The story of the Jetliner's sister ship, the CF-100, is also told. Scenes include: construction, test flights, and early developmental problems. The Jetliner also served as a camera chase plane for developmental testing on the CF-100. Some of the spectacular footage shot from the Jetliner include: rocket pod test firings, canopy jettison trials, and even a live ejection from 1,500 feet.

Colour and B&W, 31 minutes, 

1117.....$20.95