Avro Arrow returns to Malton

Nearly 69 years after the Avro Arrow captured the imagination of a nation, the legendary aircraft has returned to the community where it was designed and built. Standing proudly in the new Flight Garden at Paul Coffey Park in Malton, the replica serves as a striking tribute to one of Canada’s most celebrated engineering achievements and the people whose vision, skill and determination helped make it possible.

The recent unveiling marks the culmination of years of effort by Mayor Carolyn Parrish, Ward 5 Councillor Natalie Hart, the City of Mississauga, the Malton Business Improvement Area and dedicated donors who shared a common goal: creating a permanent home for this important piece of Canadian aviation history.

In 1957, the first CF-105 Avro Arrow rolled out of Avro Canada’s facilities, marking an important moment in Canada’s aviation history. Designed and built in Canada, the aircraft reflected the skill, expertise and dedication of the engineers, technicians and workers behind the project. It remains one of the country’s most recognized aerospace achievements.

Its history is closely connected to Mississauga. Built just a short distance from where the replica now stands, the Avro Arrow helped establish the Malton area as an important centre for aerospace manufacturing and innovation. The expertise, talent and determination behind the program laid the foundation for an industry that continues to play a significant role in the city’s economy.

Today, Mississauga is home to Canada’s largest aerospace and aviation cluster, with more than 330 companies employing over 32,000 people. Over the past decade, the sector has grown by nearly 50 per cent, reinforcing the city’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing, aviation technology, and aerospace development.

The Flight Garden offers residents and visitors a place to explore an important chapter in Canada’s aviation history. Along with the Avro Arrow replica, the site recognizes the contributions of the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck and the people whose work helped establish this community’s strong connection to aerospace and aviation.

As visitors look up at the Avro Arrow soaring above the Flight Garden, they are reminded that the aircraft was never simply about speed or technology. It represented bold thinking, ingenuity and a belief in what Canadians could achieve. Nearly seven decades later, that spirit remains an important part of Mississauga’s story, and the Arrow once again has a place to call home.

The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow replica

• The Avro Arrow replica stands just a short distance from where the original aircraft was designed and built in Malton nearly 70 years ago.
• At nearly 47 feet long with a wingspan of almost 29 feet, the replica is located in the Flight Garden at Paul Coffey Park.
• The aircraft is built primarily from marine-grade aluminum, with thousands of rivets and aluminum panels that reflect traditional aircraft construction techniques.
• The replica and its support structure weigh close to 9,000 kilograms (almost 20,000 pounds).
• To create the appearance of flight, it is mounted on a steel tower more than 20 feet high, giving the impression that it is soaring above the Flight Garden.
• The replica was fabricated in multiple sections and assembled on site.
• The Flight Garden now features both the Avro Arrow and the CF-100 Canuck, celebrating two aircraft that helped establish Malton’s place in Canada’s aerospace history.

Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow facts

• The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a supersonic interceptor aircraft designed and built in Malton during the 1950s.
• The first Avro Arrow was rolled out on October 4, 1957, and completed its maiden flight on March 25, 1958.
• The aircraft was capable of flying at nearly twice the speed of sound and was considered one of the most advanced aircraft of its time.
• Only five Arrow aircraft were completed before the program was cancelled by the federal government on February 20, 1959.
• The Avro Arrow remains one of Canada’s most recognized aerospace achievements and an enduring symbol of Canadian innovation and engineering excellence.
• The Arrow’s legacy helped establish Malton as a centre for aerospace manufacturing and innovation, laying the foundation for an industry that continues to play an important role in Mississauga’s economy today.
• Mississauga is now home to Canada’s largest aerospace and aviation cluster, with more than 330 companies employing over 32,000 people.

Quotes

“The Avro Arrow is one of Canada’s most significant achievements in aerospace engineering, and its story is deeply connected to the history of our city. By creating a permanent home for the Arrow at the Flight Garden, we are preserving an important part of our heritage while recognizing the people, ideas and determination that helped shape Mississauga into the economic centre it is today. Thank you to the Malton BIA, our generous donors and City staff who worked together to make this vision a reality.” – Mayor Carolyn Parrish

“Bringing the Avro Arrow to Malton has been a long-standing goal for many people in our community. This project honours the workers, engineers and families who were part of that history while creating a new space for residents and visitors to learn about the role this area played in shaping Canada’s aviation industry. It’s something our community can be proud of for years to come.” – Ward 5 Councillor Natalie Hart

“For everyone who lives and works in Malton, bringing the Avro Arrow home restores a deep sense of identity and pride by honouring the minds and hands that built Canada’s aviation legacy right here in our neighbourhood. Placing this landmark at Paul Coffey Park’s flight garden gives our history a tangible presence that will inspire generations of future innovators. On behalf of the Malton BIA, our heartfelt gratitude goes out to Mayor Parrish, the City of Mississauga, and every determined partner and donor who worked tirelessly to bring this symbol home.” – Malton BIA Chair, Sam Kohli

“Being part of the Avro Arrow replica project is an incredible honor for Stainless Outfitters. As a small Canadian business, we’re proud to have contributed our skills and craftsmanship to bringing a piece of Canada’s aviation history back to life. The Avro Arrow represents Canadian innovation, ambition, and ingenuity, and it means a great deal to us to play even a small part in preserving that legacy for future generations.” – Andrew O’Conor-Fenton Stainless Outfitters

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