Pete London charts the rise and fall of the ill-fated Avro Canada C-102 Jetliner, an aircraft years ahead of its time and unrivalled in performance that could have revolutionised short- and medium-haul travel
First flown in 1949, Avro Canada’s Type C-102 Jetliner outclassed every North American passenger-carrying aircraft of the day. Its rate of climb, cruising speed and ceiling were far greater than any of its rivals, and numerous record-breaking flights underscored its superior performance. Yet just a solitary example was ever built – where did it go wrong for Canada’s first jet-powered airliner?
