Canadair CL-28

Infobox Aircraft
name= CP-107 Argus
type=maritime patrol aircraft
manufacturer=Canadair


caption=Canadair Argus Mk 2
designer=Tom Harvie [Pickler and Milberry 1995, p. 121.]
first flight=28 March 1957
introduced=1957
retired=1982
status=
primary user= Royal Canadian Air Force
more users= Canadian Forces
produced= 1957- 1960
number built=33
unit cost=$5,513,000 [ [http://www.rcafmuseum.on.ca/ac_argus.htm Canadair Argus] Retrieved: 21 February 2007.]
developed from = Bristol Britannia
variants with their own articles=

The Canadair CP-107 Argus (CL-28) was a marine reconnaissance aircraft designed and manufactured by Canadair for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Canadian Forces (CF). In its early years, the Argus was reputedly the finest anti-submarine patrol bomber in the world. [ [http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/CanadairCP-107Argus2.shtml Canadair CP-Argus 2] Retrieved: 21 February 2007.] The Argus served throughout the Cold War in the RCAF's Maritime Air Command and later the CF's Maritime Air Group and Air Command.

Design and development

Canadair began work on the CL-28 in April 1954 and at the time it was the largest aircraft built in Canada. The hybrid design was derived from the Bristol Britannia transport, having the same wings, tail surfaces and landing gear except for being "Americanized" - meaning that it used the same general design, but changing the British materials and standard parts for North American ones.

The fuselage was completely redesigned by Canadair, going from the pressure cabin of the Britannia to a non-pressurised one with bomb bays fore and aft of the wings. The powerplant was also changed from the Bristol Proteus turbo-prop engines to Wright R-3350 compound (piston) engines, which had lower fuel consumption necessary for extended missions.

Operational history

The Argus replaced the RCAF Lancaster and Neptune aircraft types previously flown in the maritime roles. One of the most effective anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft of its day, the Argus was a mainstay for the RCAF. A large amount of equipment was carried, including: search radar, sonar buoys, electronic counter measures ECM), explosive echo ranging (EER) and Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD). Up to 8,000 lb (3,632 kg) of weapons could be carried in the bomb bays, including torpedoes, bombs, mines and depth charges.

A flight crew of five consisting of two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer and a radio operator plus relief crew of four was normally carried. In addition, there were six or more ASW equipment operators, the number of which was dependent on the mission. Two crew bunks and a galley were provided to extend the efficiency of the crew on long patrols. The CL-28 had an endurance of approximately 26½ hours. An Argus flown by 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron held the record of slightly over 31 hours for the longest flight by an unrefuelled aircraft. This record stood for almost 20 years until broken by the Rutan Voyager experimental aircraft which circled the globe unrefuelled.

The principal difference between the Mark I and Mark II was primarily in the different navigation, communication and tactical electronic equipment fitted internally. Externally, the Mk II exhibited a redesigned smaller nose radome and additional ECM antennae above the fuselage.

The Argus flew its last service mission on 24 July 1981, and was replaced by the CP-140 Aurora.

Variants

* Argus Mk 1 : Long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the RCAF. This aircraft was fitted with an American APS-20 radar in a chin-mounted radome. (13 built)
* Argus Mk 2 : Long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the RCAF. This aircraft was fitted with a British ASV-21 radar in a chin-mounted radome. (20-built)

Operators

;CAN
* Royal Canadian Air Force
**No. 404 Squadron RCAF
**No. 405 Squadron RCAF
**No. 407 Squadron RCAF
**No. 415 Squadron RCAF
* Canadian Forces

pecifications

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref="The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [Donald 1997, p. 118.]
crew=15
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=128 ft 9.5in
length alt=39.26 m
span main=142 ft 3.5in
span alt=43.37 m
height main=38 ft 8 in
height alt=11.79 m
area main=2,075 sq ft
area alt=192.77 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=81,000 lb
empty weight alt=36,741 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=157,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=71,214 kg
more general=

engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)=
type of prop=Wright R-3350 TC18EA1 Turbo-Compound engines
number of props=4
power main=3,700 shp
power alt=2,535 kW
power original=

max speed main=315 mph
max speed alt=507 km/h
cruise speed main=207 mph
cruise speed alt=333 km/h
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=5,900 mi
range alt=9,495 km
ceiling main=25,000 ft
ceiling alt=7,620 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=Max 8,000 lb bombs, depth charges, torpedoes, mines and 3,800 lb air-to-surface missiles and free-fall weapons on underwing hardpoints

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Bristol Britannia
* CC-106 Yukon

similar aircraft=
* Avro Shackleton
* Canadair CL-44

lists=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Donald, David. "The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft". Etobicoke, Ontario: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
* Pickler, Ron and Milberry, Larry. "Canadair: The First 50 Years". Toronto: CANAV Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.

External links

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/historical/arguslst_e.asp Canadair CP-107 Argus]
* [http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/patrol/argusmp/index.php Canadair CP-107 ARGUS]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/images/historic_gallery/wallpaper/argusa56.jpgArgus 56 image]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/images/historic_gallery/wallpaper/Argus53.jpgArgus 53 image]