[byron_fast]

Even fewer Canadians understand why the U.S. didn't trust Canada with such an able aircraft. It's destruction was, sadly, the right choice.

[catalogia]

Personally I'm partial to the theory that it was cancelled to free up funding for the Diefenbunkers, because Canadian politicians preferred to hide underground and leave the plebians to get nuked.

It's probably not true, but it seems plausibly cynical.

[na85]

That's a myth. The US government was offered the chance to buy the Arrow and all its intellectual property but declined.

It was a promising design but it was not the world-beating wonderplane that its reputation suggests.

[catalogia]

For whatever it's worth, on twitter Chuck Yeager has said he wasn't a fan of the Avro Arrow. He didn't go into details though. He's well into his 90s, so maybe he doesn't remember the details anymore.

https://twitter.com/GenChuckYeager/status/936416735464366081

[byron_fast]

Yeah, maybe. But like in tech, it's easier to acquire or destroy a competitor than catch up.

[kejaed]

Any references as to why they didn’t ?

[byron_fast]

The obvious, that it was "too expensive" like Israel's Lavi program: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/avro-iarro...

But there was the idea that the CIA didn't trust Canada to not sell it to an enemy of the USA. If the Arrow had existed under P. Trudeau, that was a justified fear.

[warlog]

..and then eventually, having no aerospace program, Canada goes on to buy F18s from America.

I think the Arrow was an economic threat couched in strategic language. The arrow was kick-ass long before 14s, 15s, 16s,18s entered the science. And yes, they have different mission scenarios, but like Avro wouldn't have owned that space. #disgruntledCanadian

[byron_fast]

By expressing an opinion that is unpopular, my "karma" takes a hit. This is how Hacker News works, like Y Combinator: be popular, or STFU. Understandable in many respects for those who have maintained forums, but still unfortunate.

[braythwayt]

Ridiculous.

Try expressing an opinion in a bar. If people like it, or if we’re persuasive, they buy us a round. If not, we get ignored at best.

Why would HN be any different? We’re all the same stuff, underneath a veneer of cheering for Tesla and Apple instead of the Leafs or Patriots.

Check my history. I’ve been upvoted, and downvoted. Upvoted is more pleasant, but we have to take the rough with the smooth.