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Canadair

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Canadair Ltd.
PredecessorCanadian Vickers
Founded11 November 1944(1944-11-11)
FounderBenjamin W. Franklin
Defunct1986
FateAcquired by Bombardier
SuccessorBombardier Aerospace
HeadquartersMontreal,Quebec,Canada
Parent

Canadair Ltd.was a Canadian civil and militaryaircraft manufacturerthat operated from 1944 to 1986. In 1986, its assets were acquired byBombardier Aerospace,the aviation division of Canadian transport conglomerateBombardier Inc.

Canadair's origins lie in the establishment of a factory forCanadian Vickersin theSaint-Laurentborough of Montreal, atCartierville Airport.It was created as a separate entity by the government of Canada on 11 November, 1944.

Throughout much of its existence, it was asubsidiaryof various other aircraft manufacturers prior to beingnationalizedby the Canadian government in 1976. For a decade, the company operated as a federally-ownedCrown Corporation.In 1986, Canadair wasprivatizedvia its sale to Bombardier, after which it became a core element ofthe firm's aerospace division.The company's former principal manufacturing facility,Canadair Plant One,remains intact, although Cartierville Airport itself has been closed and since undergone redevelopment.

During its operational years, Canadair achieved several aviation firsts; theCL-44D,based on the BritishBristol Britanniaairliner,was the first design that allowed access by swinging the entire rear fuselage. TheCL-89 and CL-289were the first surveillance drones to be put into service in several countries' armed forces. The experimentalCL-84was the firstVTOLaircraft that rotated the wings to achieve vertical lift-off (tiltwing). TheCL-215was the first purpose-designed water bomber.

History

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Canadair was formally created on 11 November 1944 as a separate entity by the government of Canada. Having absorbed the operations of theCanadian Vickerscompany, it initially operated as a manufacturer ofConsolidated PBY "Canso"flying boatson behalf of theRoyal Canadian Air Force(RCAF). Benjamin W. Franklin became its first president.[1]In addition to the PBY contract, a development contract to produce a new variant of theDouglas DC-4transport was also underway. The resulting aircraft, the CanadairDC-4M,which was powered by an arrangement of fourBritish-sourcedRolls-Royce Merlinengines, began production during 1946; it was marketed under the "Northstar" name.

Canadair Sabre in the colours of theGolden Hawks,on display at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Mount Hope, Ontario

During the immediatepostwarera, Canadair purchased the "work in progress" on the existingDouglas DC-3/C-47series. In 1946, theElectric Boat Company,an American industrial group, bought a controlling interest in the company; shortly thereafter, the two companies merged to form the American companyGeneral Dynamicsin 1952. During 1954, General Dynamics opted to purchaseConvair,which had been created by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft; as a result of this purchase, Canadair was reorganised as Convair's Canadian subsidiary.

During the 1950s, Canadair decided that it would develop its own indigenous trainer aircraft as a private venture. This aircraft, which would become theCT-114 Tutorwas the product of the company’s in-house Preliminary Design department.[2][3]By August 1957, the basic configuration had been completed, which was of aturbojet-powered, low-wing aircraft, complete with atricycle undercarriageand a side-by-side cockpit arrangement.[4]Despite a lack of official backing from the Canadian Government, theRoyal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Directorate of Training’s Jet Trainer Liaison Committee had closely engaged with the company; their involvement in the project had reportedly made a significant impact in the aircraft's final design.[4]During September 1961, the Canadian government, having been impressed by the performance of the prototype, placed a sizeable order for 190 production aircraft on behalf of theRoyal Canadian Air Force(RCAF). Serving as the service's primary trainer platform, the Tutor would be operated as such for over thirty years.[3][5]

Another indigenously-developed design was theCL-215amphibian. It arose from an internal research study during the early 1960s at Canadair, originally conceived of as a twin-enginedfloatplanetransport based on the design of the369 Canso(a variant of the PBY).[citation needed]However, it was altered into a "firefighter" following a request by forestry officials in theQuebec Service Aérien(Quebec Government Air Service) who wanted a more effective way of delivering water to forest fires. The 1962 preliminary design, designated as theCL-204,was a purpose-designedwater bomberthat evolved into an amphibian flying boat configuration, powered by two shoulder-mounted 2,100 hp (1,566 kW)Pratt & Whitney R-2800piston engines.[6]Its design was shaped by a desire for the CL-205 to be well-suited for performing a range of roles, including air-seasearch and rescue,cargo haulage and commercial passenger-carrying, in addition to the water bomber mission.[7]The definitive design was publicly revealed at the 1965Paris Air Show.[8]While theCL-215Aserved as the standard water bomber configuration, another model, designated as theCL-215C,had been envisioned to dispense with compromises meant to enhance its performance at the water bomber role, allowing it be furnished with larger doors on the sides of the fuselage and a revised underfloor hull structure.[9]

Perhaps the company's most commercially successful product was theChallenger 600business jet.Originally conceived of by the American aviation inventorBill Learas theLearStar 600,at the end of 1975, Canadair gave its backing to the concept; during April 1976, the company opted to acquire the whole project, formally launching it with the backing of theCanadian federal governmentshortly thereafter.[10][11]Development of the Challenger 600 was hampered by a deadly crash amid theflight testprogramme on 3 April 1980; despite this,type certificationfor the aircraft was approved by bothTransport Canadaand theFederal Aviation Administrationlater that same year.[12]The high cost of developing the Challenger 600 has been attributed as a major cause of Canadair's poor financial situation during the 1980s, being reportedly close tobankruptcy;the company's condition in turn ultimately contributed to its acquisition byBombardier Inc.during 1986.[13]In the long run, the business jet was well received by the market and can be considered to be a success, being produced for over four decades. In excess of 1,000 Challenger 600s had been reportedly completed by late 2018.[14]

In 1965–66 Canadair built a batch ofFlxible New Look busesunder license. All 50 were for theMontreal Transit Commission.

Outside of the field of aviation, Canadair opted to diversify into various other sectors, developing its own range of industrial and commercial products. The "Canarch" division was involved incurtain walldesign and manufacture for a number of buildings. They also produce the cabins for manyair traffic control towersoperated by theFederal Aviation Administrationin the United States. Both tracked andair-cushioned vehicleswere designed and underwent testing; however none proceeded into commercial production.[citation needed]

In the late 1950s, theUnited States Armycontracted Canadair to develop a small light-weight all-terrain amphibious tracked vehicle. In turn, Canadair developed the CL-70 RATRemote Articulated Track;[15]this vehicle, while not a commercial success, gave Canadair useful experience towards the development of the upgraded CL-91 Dynatrac, which was a marketing success and purchased by the US Army asXM-571.[16]

During 1976, the Canadian government acquired Canadair Ltd. from General Dynamics. It remained a federalcrown corporationuntil 1986 when, having experienced record losses during its development of theChallengerbusiness jet, theMulroney governmentsold it toBombardier Inc.Shortly after Canadair's acquisition, Bombardier was able to restore it to profitability; the company soon acquired other aviation companies, such as the near-bankruptShort BrothersofBelfast,Northern Ireland, and thebusiness jetspecialistLearjetofWichita, Kansas,as well asde Havilland Aircraft of CanadaofToronto,Ontario.[17]Together with these other entities, Canadair became a core component ofBombardier Aerospace.

Following the company's acquisition by Bombardier, the Canadair name had continued to be prominently used in the branding of its larger series ofbusiness jetsandregional jets,which have been marketed as theCanadian Regional Jet(CRJ). However, this branding has since been dropped; new projects from all of Bombardier's various aircraft divisions have since simply been known as Bombardier Aerospace.

Products

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Model Name Type Crew Passengers Launch dates Notes
CL-1 Canadair CL-1 Flying boat First flight: License-built variant of theConsolidated Model 28-5(PBV-1A or Canso A and OA-10A-VI
C-4& C-5 North Star Cargo aircraft/Airliner 2 or 3 52 First flight: 1946
First del'y: 1948 		License-built variant of theDouglas DC-4
CL-13 Sabre Fighter aircraft 1 0 First flight: 1950
First del'y: 1950 		License-builtNorth American F-86 Sabre
CL-28 Argus Maritime patrol aircraft up to 15* First flight: 1957
First del'y: 1960 		Development of theBristol Britannia;*normal flights also included a reserve crew of four
CL-30 CT-133 Shooting Star Trainer (aircraft)/ECM/ Communication 1 or 2 0 First flight: 1952
First del'y: 1952 		License-builtLockheed T-33 Shooting Star
CL-41
CL-41G-5 		Tutor
Tebuan 		Trainer (aircraft) 2 0 Launch date: 1960
First flight: 1962
First del'y: 1966
CL-43 Twin-engine logistics concept aircraft[18] Never built, but later influenced the design for the CL-204 (later as CL-215); modifiedfloatplanebased on PBV-1 Canso (PBY-1 Catalina) with twoR-1340engines[citation needed]
CL-44 the Forty-Four
CC-106 Yukon 		Military transport aircraft/Cargo aircraft 9 134 Launch date: 1959 Based on Bristol Britannia
CL-45 ASW concept helicopter 1954 Never built; joint effort withHiller Aircraftand was to use threeT38-GE2engines[citation needed]
CL-52 Bomber 1956 AUSAFBoeing B-47B Stratojetwas loaned to theRCAFand turned over to Canadair to test theOrenda IroquoisPS-13 engine for theAvro Arrowproject. After the Arrow was cancelled the aircraft was returned to the U.S.[19]
CL-60 Trainer/transport aircraft 1 / 2 3 / 12 1952 Beech T-36fuselage and final assembly; program cancelled in 1953[20]
CL-61 RAT (Remote Articulated Track) Armored personnel carrier 1959 Prototypes for the CL-70[21]
CL-66 Cosmopolitan Transport aircraft 2 52 First flight: 1959 ModifiedConvair CV-540
CL-70 RAT (Remote Articulated Track) Armored personnel carrier 1959 Prototypes for the CL-91 Dynatrac[21]
CL-84 Dynavert Vertical/Short Takeoff/landingExperimental aircraft 2 up to 15 combat troops First flight: May 1965 Late 1960s - No production aircraft
CL-89&CL-289 Surveillance Drone none 0 First flight: 1964
First del'y: 1969
CL-90 Starfighter Strike fighter/Trainer (aircraft) 1 or 2 0 First flight: 1961
First del'y: 1962 		License-builtLockheed F-104 Starfighter
CL-91 Dynatrac Armored Personnel Carrier 1960s [21]
CL-204 Water bomber 1962 Based on CL-43 and Canadair CL-1 Canso (variant ofConsolidated PBY Catalina), the concept led to production of the larger CL-215
CL-210 Satellite antenna n/a n/a 1965 Installed atShirleys Bay,Ontario[22]
CL-212 Hovercraft 1964–1967 Development transferred toGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat[22]
CL-213 Fisher All-terrain vehicle 1 1 1963–1964 [21]
CL-215 Scooper Water Bomber 2 up to 18 passengers (utility version) First flight: 1967
First del'y:1969 		In 2016,Viking Air Ltd.acquired theType certificatefor theCanadair CL-215;total 125 built earlier.
CL-218 Flxible New Look Transit bus 1 45 1965–1966 License-builtFlxible New Look busF2D6V-401-1
CL-219 CF-5 (CF-116 Freedom Fighter) Strike fighter/Fighter bomber 1 or 2 0 First flight: 1968 License-builtNorthrop F-5Freedom Fighter; total 240 built[23]
CL-225 Satellite antenna n/a n/a 1965 Installed atLac-Bouchette, Quebec[22]
CL-227 Sentinel Remote controlunmanned aerial vehicle none 0 First flight: 1980
CL-251 Subcontract n/a n/a 1971–1975 Wing panels and other components for theDassault Mercureairliner[20]
CL-252 1972 Modification of twoLockheed L-188 Electraairliners for Environment Canada ice patrols[20]
CL-257 Subcontract n/a n/a 1973–1985 Fuselage sections for theBoeing 747SP[20]
CL-281 Subcontract n/a n/a 1977–1994 Components for theLockheedCP-140 AuroraandP-3C Orion[20]
CL-415 Superscooper Water Bomber 2 1 on jump seat, 8 on bench seats First flight: 1993
First del'y: 1994 		In 2016,Viking Airacquired theType certificatefor theCanadair CL-415;total 95 built earlier.
CL-600 Challenger Business jet 2 8 to 19 First flight: 1978
Certification: 1980
CL-600 CRJ 100/200 Regional jet 2* 50 First flight: 1991
Introduction: 1992 		*plus flight attendants
CL-600 CRJ700/900/1000 Regional jet 2* 66-104 First flight: 1999
Introduction: 2001 		*plus flight attendants

Missiles

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See also

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References

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Citiations

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  1. ^"Canadair."Archived2011-02-07 at theWayback MachineProject North Star Restoration Primer,April 2003. Retrieved: 31 December 2011.
  2. ^Dishlevoy 2005, pp. 8–10.
  3. ^abNorris 1998, p. 22.
  4. ^abUpton, Bill."CL-41 Prototype."Canadian Aviation Historical Society,Retrieved: 31 May 2019.
  5. ^"CT-114 Tutor."Archived2021-12-07 at theWayback Machineairforce.forces.gc.ca,Retrieved: 31 May 2019.
  6. ^Flight International 1968, p. 269.
  7. ^Flight International 1968, pp. 269, 271.
  8. ^"Canadair CL-215."Flight International,21 November 1968. p. 871.
  9. ^Flight International 1968, p. 272.
  10. ^Bill Upton (2007)."Canadair CL-600 / 601 / 604 Challenger serial 1003, registration C-GCGT"(PDF).Canada aviation museum. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2019-03-06.Retrieved2020-03-14.
  11. ^Mike Hirst (12 August 1978)."Challenger".Flight International.pp. 470–478.
  12. ^"Certificate A-131".Transport Canada. 2019-11-22.
  13. ^"OPINION: In praise of the Challenger".Flight International.25 November 2018.
  14. ^Murdo Morrison (12 October 2018)."NBA A: Business jet designs that changed the industry".FlightGlobal.
  15. ^"Canadian RAT can scurry anywhere."Popular Science,December 1959, pp. 118–120.
  16. ^"CL-91 Dynatrac."Canadian America Strategic Review.Retrieved: 31 December 2011.
  17. ^"Inc. – Bombardier – Home".Bombardier. 25 February 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2013.Retrieved14 March2020.
  18. ^"Canadair Forty Four Trivia."Swingtail: The Newsletter of the CL44 Association,December 2001. Retrieved: 31 December 2011.
  19. ^Block, Burwell, ed."The CL-52/B-47B."Archived2011-09-30 at theWayback MachineThe B-47 Stratojet Association.Retrieved: 4 June 2011.
  20. ^abcde"1952 Subcontracts".Archived fromthe originalon 15 July 2015.Retrieved9 January2012.
  21. ^abcd"1956 Vehicles".Archived fromthe originalon 17 June 2015.Retrieved9 January2012.
  22. ^abc"1958 Special Products".Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2015.Retrieved9 January2012.
  23. ^"Canadair (Northrop) CF-5A Freedom Fighter, twin engine jet fighter, Canada".

Bibliography

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