On 10 August 1949, Avro Canada achieved a landmark in aviation history with the maiden flight of the C‑102 Jetliner in Toronto—just 13 days after Britain’s de Havilland Comet—making it the second purpose-built jet airliner in the world and the first to fly in North America. The sleek, mid‑range, four‑engined aircraft was designed to serve routes across the continent and featured a capacity of around 40‑50 passengers.

By Austin Hancock – Vintage Aviation News

Powered by Rolls‑Royce Derwent engines—four in total—this prototype embodied both innovation and promise. Its designers had intended to use the more powerful Avon jets, but production delays forced a switch in powerplants.

The Jetliner captured international interest. Howard Hughes flew it personally and explored a licence production agreement for TWA. It also completed a celebrated flight from Toronto to New York in April 1950, delivering the world’s first jet airmail in just under an hour.

However, the Jetliner’s civilian promise was cut short. By 1951, Canadian government directives shifted Avro’s focus to military aircraft—specifically the CF‑100 Canuck interceptor—halting further Jetliner development. Only the sole prototype flew until late 1956 before being scrapped; its nose section survives in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

The Jetliner remains a fascinating “almost-made-it” dream of early commercial jet aviation—a symbol of ingenuity stifled by shifting strategic priorities.