RCAF Canadian Armed Forces Canadair CP-107 CL-28 Argus – Photo History
Photos by Dr. John Blatherwick (unless otherwise indicated)
Write up by Henry Tenby
The RCAF took delivery of 33 Canadair built CP-107 Argus maritime patrol aircraft in 1957 and the aircraft remained in front line service with the Canadian Armed Forces until their retirement in 1981 when replaced by new Lockheed CP140 P-3 Aurora aircraft.
RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair Argus 10741 at CFB Namao June 1969.
The RCAF Argus fleet was deployed on the West Coast of Canada at CFB Comox, and at Greenwood, Nova Scotia on the East Coast during its entire service life with the Canadian Forces. Having replaced the older generation RCAF P-2 Neptunes and Lancasters the Argus had a crew of 10 and could stay aloft with an impressive endurance of 30 hours.
The Argus was essentially a modified Bristol Britannia, with downgraded piston engines and the addition of a mad boom to the tail, along with the removal of the Britannia’s passenger windows. The downgrade to turbo compound piston engines was necessary to give the maximum endurance range of 30 hours, which would not have been possible with turbine engines of the day.
When retired in 1981, the Argus fleets were placed in open storage at CFB Comox and Greenwood, and most were scrapped, although a few were kept on as museum pieces.
We hope you enjoy the RCAF Canadair Argus images taken by Dr. John Blatherwick. Thank you very much for visiting this page, and enjoy!
I am looking to purchase 35mm Kodachrome aircraft slide collections. Please contact me: henrytenby at gmail dot comRCAF Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair Argus 723 air-to-air circa early 1960s.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10710 at CFB Namao July 1971.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10723 at Abbotsford August 1972.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10719 at Greenwood NS September 1973.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10722 landing at Abbotsford August 1975.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10720 at CFB Comox September 1979.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10713 possibly at CFB Comox September 1980.Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10712 at CFB Comox May 1980. (John Kimberley slide)Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10712 at Abbotsford January 1981. (John Kimberley slide)Canadian Armed Forces Canadair Argus 10736 at CFB Comox June 1981. (Andrew Brattkus slide)
