BRISTOL BRITANNIA XM496 PRESERVATION SOCIETY

The Canadair CP-107 Argus was one of the most interesting military derivatives of the Bristol Britannia. While it looked similar at first glance, it was far more than a simple conversion—it was essentially a purpose-built Canadian maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft that used major Britannia components as its starting point.

Why the Argus was developed

In the early Cold War, the Royal Canadian Air Force needed a long-range aircraft capable of hunting submarines across the North Atlantic. Canadair obtained a licence to use the Britannia design, but instead of adapting an airliner directly, engineers created a new aircraft optimized for anti-submarine warfare.

What it shared with the Britannia

The Argus retained much of the Britannia's basic airframe:

• Wings
• Tail surfaces
• Landing gear

These components were taken from the Britannia because they were already proven for long-range operations.

Major changes

The Argus differed from the Britannia in several important ways:

• A completely new, unpressurized fuselage designed by Canadair.
• Internal space for radar operators, navigators, electronic warfare specialists, and weapon systems.
• Two internal weapons bays for torpedoes, depth charges, mines, and bombs.
• Replacement of the Britannia's Bristol Proteus turboprops with four Wright R-3350 Turbo-Compound piston engines. These engines were chosen because they consumed less fuel during the low-altitude patrols required for anti-submarine work.

Performance

The Argus became famous for its endurance. It could remain airborne for more than 26 hours, allowing crews to patrol huge areas of ocean. This was a crucial advantage when tracking Soviet submarines during the Cold War.

Key figures:

Service history

• First flight: 28 March 1957.
• Entered service in 1957.
• 33 aircraft were built.
• Served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and later the Canadian Forces until 1982.
• Replaced by the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora.

Reputation

Many aviation historians consider the Argus one of the most capable piston-engined maritime patrol aircraft ever built. In its early years it was regarded as among the world's most advanced anti-submarine aircraft, combining long endurance, sophisticated sensors, and a large weapons load.

An interesting irony is that although the Britannia represented the future of civil aviation with turboprop engines, the Argus reverted to large piston engines because they were more economical for the long, low-level patrol missions it was designed to fly.