MovieChat Forums > The Arrow (1997) Discussion > IS anyone there? If so I have a question

IS anyone there? If so I have a question

posted 19 years ago by hobwuzzle
4 replies | jump to latest

THere's one thing about the Avro Arrow that to me doesn't make sense. In this movie, Diefenbaker ordered not only the planes, but everything relating to Arrow to be recalled and destroyed. Including films, bluesprints, models, the whole shebang so that people would quickly forget about it. On the Discovery Channel show "Rocket Science" , there was actual film footage of the Arrow. In the movie, the gov suits and soldiers pretty much took everything. Did some of the Arrow workers sneak some films out from under Diefenbaker's nose? But if the footage was shown after 40 years on Rocket Science, what was the gov's reaction when they found out that something that something that was supposed to destroyed survived?

Also, there is no mention of the Arrow in the Encyclopedia(probably thanks to the PM) Correct me if I'm wrong but did Canada just forget the Avro Arrow, the horrors and the aftermath of it's cancellation, and suddenly have it's memory sparked thanks to this movie, or can you tell me what happened?

[–] bryanncampbellca 19 years ago

You are right there were many things kept under the governments nose, as well as things were saved for research purposes. The nose section of 206 was kept for research (now in the National Aviation Museum) and many parts, engineering plans, and tools were sneaked out in employees lunch boxes. As far as the footage I believe they were kept in a library vault and the librarian stopped anyone from taking anything from it, I don't remember all of that story.

The government didn't take any action to these people since the Diefenbaker government denies ever ordering the destruction of the Arrow or "the whole shebang". However Fred Smye said in a documentary the cabinet ordered the destruction.

And for your last question, for me I didn't know the Arrow, the Canuck, the Jetliner, and the Avro Car, existed until this mini-series! But then again I didn't know much about Canadian history thanks to our lovley education system. Later on I found out about the the Supersonic transport design, the Hypersonic interceptor, and the various versions of the Arrow in the design process.

Hope this helps.

[–] jgroves3 18 years ago

I've known about the Arrow pretty much all mu life. my Grandfather who was a mechanic in the RCAF at the time of the Arrow would tell all off us storys. He bought us models and such.

I live near CFB Trenton and this base is the only other airfield that the Arrow landed at, and there is pics of it in an anniversary book released.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] revengine 12 years ago

My uncle has a window from one of the Arrows.

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