Grostenquin, France
The CF-100 Arrives at Grostenquin

Detail by Larry Milberry - The CF-100 Tours Europe

In March 1955 three CF-100 Mk.4Bs were ferried across the Atlantic via Iceland to the RAF Central Fighter Establishment. This operation was called Random 12 and was the first time a Canadian-designed fighter aircraft had flown the Atlantic. After RAF evaluation, the CF-100s, aircraft 18320-18322, were stored in the UK at RCAF Station Langar.

That August, AVRO decided to display the CF-100 at the SBAC's 16th Flying Display and Exhinition at Farnborough; and after several days of cleaning and servicing, 18321 and 18322 were made ready for flights through the efforts of AVRO's five man service team led by John Painter. Jan Zurakowski and Glen Lynes were to fly the aircraft.

Both aircraft were flown to Farnborough on September 3. Probably due to the months they had spent outdoors, getting them ready to fly had been arduous, and once at Farnborough there were still numerous snags. Nonetheless flying got under way on September 5. John Painter notes in his report to AVRO: "Even on this first day it was apparent that Zura's display would be a highlight of the Show and indeed, it was considered by many during the days to come, that he did steal the show. Our only competition, if it may be called that, was Roly Faulk with his upward roll in the Vulcan, but as he was stoppped in doing this after the second day, the field was ours. As someone remarked "the rest of the stuff just went fast", which was quite true and made even more noticeable the CF-100 aerobatics."

In its September 9, 1955, edition The Aeroplane wrote of Zurakowski's show: "Although far from new, the AVRO Aircraft CF-100 Mk.4B was a welcomed newcomer to Farnborough, and was magnificently displayed by Jan Zurkowski. His imaginative approach to demonstration flying was shown by his sequence of half-bunt from the inverted position; several rolls; a four-turn oscillary spin; a vertical upward roll; and a most impressive prolonged falling leaf, with the Orenda 11s idling..." The two CF-100s were flown back to Langar on September 12. In all, 18321 flew 1:50 hours during the show and 18322 2:40 hours. Run-ups and flying burned 5470 gallons of fuel.

At this point AVRO and the RCAF organized a tour of the Air Division to show off the CF-100. This began September 25 when Glen Lynes flew 18321 to Grostenquin with John Painter as a passenger. A program was set up in which three lectures on the CF-100 were given at each station, followed by a demonstration flight. The AVRO report on the tour notes: "Mr. Lynes' demonstration... was to say the least excellent and it made a tremendous impression on the Sabre personnel... The tour was undoubtedly a success and did much to put an end to unfounded rumours which had circulated about the aircraft. Serviceability throughout was excellent and apart from changing one wheel due to a cut tire, no replacements of any description were required". The rumours referred to had to do with structural integrity of the CF-100 and perhaps things like its early system of fuel management and, while based partially on fact, required clarification. The tour, which ended September 28, did much to give the CF-100 credibility among Air Division pilots.

Detail by Don Norrie - There is an important story attached to CF-100 18321. As you know AVRO and the Canadian government was trying to sell the CF-100 to European countries. In 1955 France, Italy, the Netherlands, and in particular, Belgium, showed an interest in purchasing the CF-100 to add the all weather fighter capability to their respective airforces. As such, CF-100 serial # 18321 was flown to 2 (F) Wing by an AVRO test pilot accompanied by their engineering and maintenance crews. The plan was in two parts. First to show the aircraft in the hangar where the various country's aeronautical experts could look and ask questions of the AVRO personnel pertaining to the mechanics etc of the "clunk". Hence you will notice in the photos of 26 September, provided below, the white smocked civilian engineers and some uniformed officers of the RNAF and the BAF.

The second part of the plan was an air display. All this occurred on a Saturday, so many of the wing support personnel and their families turned out to watch the flying display. Initially the weather was a bit "claggy", but by early afternoon it had cleared up nicely and the ceiling over the base was CAVU. Never in my life was I again to witness such a fantastic demonstration of aerobatics and flying manoeuvres which pushed a flying machine to it's very limits. The most notable to me was the "falling leaf" accomplished with alternately idling engines. The test pilot started this manoeuvre at a height of about 15,000 feet (if my memory serves me right) and continued down, down, down, falling quietly like a maple leaf from an autumn tree, until most of us on the ground thought for sure he was not going to pull up in time to miss a fatal collision with the ground. Then the sound of his two Orenda engines at full throttle shook the surrounding air like thunder, and the CF-100 surged back into the air for a "slow and over" before coming in for a landing.

I believe it was Glen Lynes who flew the aircraft for this display. Earlier in the year 18321 was being evaluated by the RAF and was flown in the Farnborough Air Show where Jan Zurakowski (AVROs Chief Test Pilot) had put on an amazing air display. This aircraft eventually went into active service with 423 Squadron, then 445 Squadron in Marville where it was written off in a Category "A" crash on 25 September 1958.