Canadair CC-111

[Captain Canada]

Little has been written about the venerable CC-111 in RCAF service. Canadair assembled 2 aircraft in kit form from the British manufacturer, in the hopes of securing a larger order from the CDN government. The orders never materialized, but the 2 111s served the Arctic supply run well into the 80's.

[The Rat]

Yep, I used to see those passing through YYZ all the time. (insert huge sly wink here) Nice one! 

[Litvyak]

Love it!!

[Scooterman]

So much WIN!

[upnorth]

I have fond memories of poking about the preserved example at CFB Edmonton when I was an Air Cadet.

They'd just given it a fresh coat of paint, white over grey with red lightning bolt and put it back on display when CFB Edmonton got handed over to the army.

Most of the preserved aircraft at CFB Edmonton were put in the care of the Alberta Aviation Museum at Edmonton's municipal airport, but the 111 went elsewhere.

The stories vary, but one persistant rumor is that it eneded up in the hands of the Reynolds Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin. However, that museum has just as persistantly denied having the aircraft.

To this day, that CC-111 has not surfaced in the public collections of any Canadian museum. Many people suspect it is languishing in a museum annex somewhere.

[PR19_Kit]

The CC-111 must have been much better assembled than the other licence 'built' BAC 1-11s. Those others were made in Rumania and rumour had it that the BAC inspectors failed more than 1000 (!) assemblies before the first one flew!

It looks great with the red Arctic wing and tail tips, let's hope someone finds it before it's frozen into a block of best Canadian ice! 

[Stargazer]

You guys are nuts ... and I love it!!! 

[upnorth]

What's generally not known about the 1-11 in Canadian service is that there was a third one.

The two in Canada were built from BAC supplied kits while the third one, which served the RCAF and later CAF exclusively in Europe was built by BAC themselves.

In it's later service, based at CFB Lahr, it could be distinguished from the Canadian based 1-11s by it's tactical camouflage scheme and fitting of hush kits to the engines.

After retirement in 1985, it was sold to a civilian operator in Africa and written off in a landing accident in Nairobi shortly after. Until 1990, when it was sold to a local scrapper, glimpses of its dismantled hulk could be seen in a corner of Kenyatta Airport.

[PR19_Kit]

You guys are nuts ... and I love it!!! 

It's taken you this long to figure that out? 

Of COURSE we are, that's what makes this place so much fun. 

[Pablo1965]

Nice!

[Green Dragon]

Wish I'd thought of that Cap'n! 

Paul Harrison