Nightmare Fuel For Soviet Submarines; the story of the Canadair CP-107 Argus

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In its day the Argus was the most formidable anti-submarine warfare platform fielded by any NATO country. Canadair adapted the Bristol Britannia into a highly effective low and slow sub hunter. This gave Maritime Air Command the edge in the North Atlantic. It served on the front-line of the Cold War and kept the Soviet submarine threat in check for almost 25 years.
0:00 Introduction
0:28 Canada’s ASW role
2:41 Selection of the Bristol Britannia
4:43 Canadair’s modifications
8:11 Sensors and weapons
14:29 Deployment history
17:59 Mission
20:45 Operational History
22:55 Accidents and Close Calls
24:33 Replaced by the Aurora
26:40 Conclusion
Music:
Denmark - Portland Cello Project
Research Sources:
Footage Sources:
#Argus #CanadianAerospace #PolyusStudios

[@RedAir27]

2:42 "they remained in service much longer than anticipated" Motto of the Canadian Forces it seems.

[@tigermoth98]

Yah that wasn't much of a surprise...

[@anonymousperson2110]

B-52: Am I a joke to you? Now the USAF is planning to fly the B-52 into the next century lol... The B-21 retirement ceremony will be interrupted by routine B-52 training.

[@guywerry6614]

Pretty much, eh.

[@spurgear4]

Flying yesterday's aircraft tomorrow

[@jocobibradshaw4950]

It’s not like our country is broke we have lots of money they just don’t like to spend it on the military but if there is a war I’m sure that would change

[@davidoickle1778]

As a kid we would stand and watch the Argus fly overhead. I still remember the wonderful sound of those radial engines. It was sad to see them go. Now we hear the Aurora fly overhead. A different sound but still comforting.

[@bluetopguitar1104]

As an American I would like to say thank you to Canada for the sacrifices made to our alliance.

[@davidkillens8143]

Despite the nonsense from our politicians, our nations share the same goals. We are brothers, we are neighbors, we are warriors fighting the same fight.

[@mopartshemi]

No problem ehh bud

[@kkoz_]

As a Canadian I would like to say thank you to America for the sacrifices made to our alliance.

[@caymanhunter2612]

How dare you as an American acknowledge Canada does anything good?!? Were Number one good damn it. Not them.

[@banjopete]

As a New Zealander I would like to thank Canada for entering WW2 at the beginning , not waiting for years to become involved.

[@Ravenankh]

Great video. My father was a flight engineer on the Neptune, Argus, and Aurora. He had the honour of being part of the aircrew on that last Argus flight, as well as delivering the Argus that sits at the Ottawa Air and Space Museum. He passed away last year, I sure he would have enjoyed this.

[@guyhermanson3002]

We are thankful for your father's service. My father, Maj. Gerald Lee Allen-Hermanson started his career in the RCAF as a radio officer on the Argus in the 60s and then remastered to be a fighter pilot.

[@louiswilkins9624]

Salute

[@samhunt9380]

Your Dad is a hero. Respect.

[@windborne8795]

My condolences sir! Thanks to your father's service, and so many others', like my Grandfather and Uncle,, the free world remained wholly free for many decades. Sadly, we are coming into darker times once again. May we see a resurgence of heroes, like your father, to ensure our freedoms for our children's and our children's children's future. God bless! 🇺🇸

[@alszawara3645]

The pilot who flew the last flight to Ottawa, Maor Wayne Griffith passed away last year as well. I was the Ops officer on duty in Summerside when they departed and received their arrival message when they got to Ottawa.

[@regwatts3866]

I was a navigator on the Argus with 405 squadron during the Cold War. I am very happy to see this story of the plane I spent so much time in. There is a lot more to tell, but... time and memory are marching on. My thanks to the producer.

[@polyus_studios]

Thanks! Did you ever know Dave Watson? He was a friend of mine who flew the Argus for years

[@philiptorrens2052]

A very long shot, but would you have known my father, Patrick Torrens? He was also an Argus navigator, in the late 1950s to early 1960s, flying out of Summerside and Shearwater.

[@polyus_studios]

No sorry I don't think I ever met him

[@petewarrell3734]

The sound is jn forgettable That droning sound At air shows at CFB SHEARWATER my father was there to Any why A argous comming buy low And fast is a great loud experience To

[@thedeltateam1]

Did you know A pilot named Les Shumka ? Was my father

[@MOTOMINING]

My late dentist, Dr. Richard S. Bell was a Canadian Landcaster pilot in the 50's. He always had pictures of aircraft on the walls and a few stained glass airplanes hanging in the windows. Despite all the extractions and drilling, he was a really nice guy and is definitely missed.

[@chrislong3938]

You don't hear that about a lot of dentists!!! ;-)

[@DarkSoulsFan12345]

Wtf is a "late" dentist

[@seanhudson2319]

@@DarkSoulsFan12345Yk that means dead right? That is taught in like middle school :/

[@Boballoo]

@@DarkSoulsFan12345 He died.

[@terrystevens5261]

@@DarkSoulsFan12345 One that is dead, obviously ! not that hard to understand really.

[@aeyb701]

Growing up in the Annapolis valley the Argus’ sound was an almost hourly event, climbing out or approaching almost hourly it seemed, near our house and high school (West Kings, class of 1981). My dad was a civilian doctor spending part of each week at RCAF Greenwood. I was 3 or 4 when lucky enough to taxi in one with my dad from the hangar to flight line, or wherever. Is a Snapshot kind of memory. Remember noticing the bunks and dim lights. A patient of his died when one crashed near RCAF station Bermuda in the mid sixties. I have old slides of him at our house.

[@dickvercouteren1424]

As a neighbor to your southern border I have always been impressed with Canada's aerospace contributions considering the population is 10% of the US. Damn shame the CF-105 Arrow never got the glory it deserved, pure US political corruption. ..................sickening !

[@kimchipig]

Circa 1978, I was on Mt Washington on Vancouver Island, for a school ski trip. I wiped out and when looked up, I saw an Argus from Comox regally flying by. Thanks for bring that memory back.

[@tomyost6330]

Thank you for this interesting and revealing story. Canada has always been our closest ally and friend, working alongside the US to keep North America free and safe. Where I live in northern NY, I am always glad to see the stream of Canadian visitors, mostly from Ontario and Quebec, coming down our 'Pen-Can' highway, I-81. That name was given years ago in honor of the completion of I-81 from Pennsylvania, straight north through central New York to the Canadian border. And many stop in Syracuse. Thank you. Peace.

[@acton2916]

Shame they couldn't save us from the Biden crime syndicate.

[@warrenosborne6044]

Thank you,, I was an OT (sub tracker) USN 73-77. Our section went from Navfac Pacific Beach up to Comox BC. Got to go on a Sosus flight on an Argus. The Canadians were so cool, and let us take turns in the copilots seat and steer the plane. Damn cool memory!

[@Mariner311]

Excellent video - I was a sensor operator in the US Navy's SH-60B Seahawk back in the mid-1980s... I grew up just outside of NAS Moffett Field in California, and HOPED to be a P-3B/C Orion sensor operator... eventually, I qualified as a Sensor Operator in the Orion and Viking later in my career - we often worked with the Canadian military doing ASW operations in the North Pacific.

[@fochall1]

My Father was an observer, radio, radar, Julie and jez, cook and quite a few other seats. He was the crew 'can ya hold this here for me while I pee' guy too. I myself flew on them as a child and teenager quit a few times, and on one of those flights I was the 'hold it here guy'. Never forget that feeling. The Argus was a boss and tremendously respected threat. Great work! Thank you

[@stephenwebber3076]

That was the most comprehensive examination of the Argus probably ever! My fathers best friend (Al Metson)was an AME on the Argus. When we went to see the Argus at Rockliffe he commented that someone must have worked hard to get the oil and exhaust stains off the engines and wings. They were always dirty... things you remember from back in the day

[@tedmoss]

I never heard of a radial engine that didn't use plenty of oil.

[@howardthrongard640]

Thank you from an old US Navy aircrewman here in the Philippines. I flew missions on the EP-3, EA-3B, and EC-121. Great memories.

[@donaldvincent]

As an American I am amazed at what the Canadians were able to do with a much smaller economy to support such technical projects. Canada and Canadair seem to punch way above their weight back then. (Just look up the CL-84 for instance) I hope they still do! I guess we must wait 40-50 years and check back for new videos then.

[@Clayton-Bigsby966]

My thoughts exactly. The CL-84 and the Avro Arrow are great examples of what America’s Hat is capable of. Amazing engineers up there.

[@Johnny_Guitar]

@@Clayton-Bigsby966 ahhh....Canada is NOT america's hat! We are ---> *NORTH AMERICA'S FEDORA !!!* .

[@ShionWinkler]

Well Canada was part of British Empire up till 1982, so it had more to work with back then. But yes Canada is very "cool" (pun intended). 😎❤

[@intercommerce]

@@ShionWinkler Empire ended with Statute of Westminster 1931. The only thing that happened in '82 was the patriation of the Constitution.

[@AmokCanuck]

@@Johnny_Guitar or is america our ass

[@alanwood5857]

I remember the Argus flying out of Summerside when I was a little kid, usually just a few hundred feet up cruising down the coastline. Always great!

[@daveking4229]

In the 70's had a chance to crawl through an Argus at CFB Comox. Have a picture of me through the the bombardier nose . All I remember now is just how big that old beast was.

[@charlieross-BRM]

This narrator talks about how decrepit the systems got over time. Has anyone walked on the tarmac the length of a B-52 with the bay doors open? I did in the 90's at the Hamilton Air Show. The state of the wiring harnesses gave me the absolute willys.

[@biggoomba2066]

My wife and I were mechanics on these a/c back in the late 70’s. She was the first woman in 407 squadron, and the best mechanic. There was a different snag every day, never stopped learning. What a machine, shivers.

[@tedmoss]

Do you mean the airplane?

[@tedmoss]

@4one14 No, I was trying to make a joke late at night, should have went to bed. My AFC was 30170 Aircraft Radio Tech and 57130 Fire specialist.

[@davidlafranchise4782]

I'm guessing your joke was about the "what a machine" sentence. And "a different snag" Good joke, just a little above most Americans!! Canadians, gotta love'em!!!

[@tedmoss]

@@davidlafranchise4782 😁

[@wz7285]

@@davidlafranchise4782 American here, same as Canadians just further south...yep, got it🤣🤣

[@Ellesmere888]

Excellent research and terrific production. Well done !

[@dananichols1816]

Very well done, and great narration! At Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, '71-'75, it was great to see the Argus's and CF-100s come through occasionally. What an awesome platform, with fantastic crews to stay at it for those long, low-overwater missions. My dad was a nav in RC/EC-121 Connies out of Otis AFB, Cape Cod, in the mid-'60s. The R-3350s, with the power-recovery turbines, had a lot of fires; in a little over a year, mid-'60s, Otis lost three aircraft and 50 crew in overwater crashes. Your research, great photos, and history of the effort made by Canada to select and sustain their ASW commitment is commendable. Press on.

[@rv6ejguy]

My father flew the Argus out of Summerside and was good friends with Dave Watson. They flew together frequently and also after RCAF service in the corporate world. Dave was a great guy, I knew him as well in Calgary. As a kid on the base, we were always watching the Argus' fly over and I had a tour inside one time. I returned to Summerside recently in 2018 where 739 is still on display. Great memories. Thanks for a very well researched video.

[@tavish007]

Hi there! My dad, Len Wilson, also flew the Argus out of Summerside. We were also great friends of the Watson family. Great to see this dedication!

[@jimmason8502]

There was an Argus on display at CFB Greenwood as I remember from Air Cadet camps in the late 70s/early 80s. Cadets used to sneak inside to make out so eventually the base commander had the doors welded shut. I felt like saluting every time I marched past that beast.

[@larrymacdonald4241]

When I was a kid in the 70's, my Father used to work at CFB Trenton, I used to sit in the cockpits and pretend to be a pilot while my father fixed them, C-130's, Argus, 707's... fond memories of that plane...

[@unclefart5527]

Great video. I never paid much attention to the Argus at airshows, just wanted to see the fast & new stuff. Never realized how sophisticated they were until this video.

[@polyus_studios]

Cheers! Yeah it wasn’t a looker but it had some amazing capabilities

[@warrenosborne6044]

I was an OT/622 stationed at Navfac Pac Beach 75-77. Our watch section drove up to Comox and went on an exercise. No pesky Ruskies, but the super kind pilots let us take turns driving from the co-pilot seat. I'll never forget the pilot asking me "would you like to steer, ladie?" I steered the huge plane between ice squalls. Absolutely the memory of a life time!

[@colhuddy1823]

The crash in Summerside was much worse than the one casualty you mention. Unfortunately there were three members of Crew 4 who died as a result of the crash: Major Ross Hawkes; Sergeant Ralph Arsenault and Master Corporal Al Senez. Another nine members were injured in varying degrees and six members walked away physically unscathed.

[@hughjass1044]

So many fond memories of this gorgeous and fantastic plane. The pride of Canadian aviation.

[@ThePirate04]

Excellent production, took me back to the 60's up to the end , as an F/E on the Argus with 5000 hours.

[@brucerideout9979]

I watched many an Argus at CFB Comox when my dad was stationed there. Cpl Tom Rideout. I miss those days with the Voodoos aplenty. A buddy in Air cadets went on to fly Voodoos, Tom Chester. He bailed out of one over Airforce beach.. Siggh

[@timblack33]

I never realized how badass Canadians were. All us young people have seen is Trudy trying to bend the truck drivers over a barrel. Thanks for sharing and for the service of all armed forces to our north.

[@macdodd]

I've been on board Argos 720 at RAF Kinloss in Scotland in 1971 & was extremely excited to be asked on board to meet the crew. I introduced myself & explained my knowledge of this particular airframe as I had recently married the oldest daughter of ex Sgt Harry Bisset who served at Greenwood from the late '50s. He used to be an RAF flight Engineer in Bombers during WWII & transferred to the RCAF in 52 first serving in Germany on Sabers then on return to Canada was posted to Search & Rescue at Greenwood then later worked on this particular Argus. Many of the crew remembered him & his family so I was made very welcome & given a load of groceries & several copies of the Greenwood Argus newspaper. My father in law was beside himself when we took a trip down to Carnoustie Scotland & reminisced even more about his time with the Squadron. Harry was the recipient of the Canadian Centennial Medal for his work with the S & R Squadron. I thoroughly enjoyed my short time on this aircraft & when I finally visited CFB Greenwood Nova Scotia a few years back I got to see the aircraft again. My father in law was part of an RAF crew who took the ASW Lancaster out to Canada back in 1950 on a goodwill tour

[@darkartsleather5586]

My dad was a radar tech on the Argus in the mid-70s.

[@thedeltateam1]

In the 60s my father was stationed in Summerside and Greenwood and was a pilot of the Argus. As kids once a year they would load us into the plane and fly us up and down the coast. Those days are long gone in RCAF.

[@kegeshook1734]

I grew up in Greenwood. A flight on the Argus was never offered to me or anyone that I knew of. Would have loved to. I was on many of the Arguses through the years but never in the air on them. I've never been in the air on any plane. I miss that old Argus flying over the house and yard many times a day.

[@davemoulds4743]

Thank you for the video, have been looking for a video on the Argus, was a radio officer on the beast stationed at 405 Sqd. Greenwood NS. The Argus was one hell of platform which when challenged to show its capabilities in mock war games out killed our pressurized, more electronically capable allies, testament to excellent trained crews and wannabe fighter pilots in the left and right seats. It is a shame if was scrapped would make a show stopper at any air show big, NOISY.

[@cbstevp]

I was in the Air Cadets in the early 1980s and spent 3 summers at the Cadet training school at CFB Greenwood, in the Air Studies program, the Glider school, and finally as a staff member of the Glider school. We were there at the end of the Argus' life and saw the brand new Aurora that replaced it. Every day we saw them take off and land and it was a thrill for us young wannabe pilots.

[@Matsumoto77]

I flew with the cadets at CFB Trenton Mountainview detachment in 2019, we were lucky to see a few auroras come and go every once in a while, was a nice change of pace from the constant CC-177's and CC-130's that constantly interrupted our ops.

[@Marktastic11]

I did 2 camps at Greenwood in the 90's. The Argus was on static display on the parade ground. The thing to do was to sneak into the Argus and tape your Squadrons shoulder flash to glass nose. It was flanked by a Neptune and a Lancaster (or maybe Halifax, I can't remember) . It was awesome being there as the Auroras and Arcturus would be flying around all the time.

[@cbstevp]

@@Marktastic11 I think it was a Maritime Patrol Lancaster they had last time I was there in 1984

[@user-ki7cv6ty2u]

I remember most is the noise and the vibrations from the engines on full throttle. I was at Greenwood in 63,64,and 65. I did spend some time in isolation in the hospital. Standing Orders said "All patients will put down all reading material and turn off all radio at 1300 hrs and sleep for a period of not less than one hour." Well, they forgot to tell the tower. An Argus began bombing practice at that and flew VERY low right over the hospital. My bed moved diagonally from one corner of the room and ended up jammed into the farthest corner. I still love the sound of those engines.

[@MrPnhartley]

There’s one of these at the Canadian Air and Space Museum in Rockcliffe Ontario near Ottawa. A really good flight museum.

[@benjaminbomberg]

Yes, it's in the storage hangar, if memory serves me correctly. You need to go during one of the scheduled tours or request one if I remember correctly (I haven't been in a year or two). Also, Rockcliffe is just a neighborhood in Ottawa, for the the record :)

[@erictremblay4940]

@@benjaminbomberg FWIW, I stayed nearby (and uphill) at CFB Ottawa North (ie Rockcliffe) in 1990 and 1991, at the Officer's mess. The whole base is now demolished.

[@xairman565]

There’s one on display at Comox BC, one at Greenwood NS. Plus one at Trenton on display in their air park. I believe there’s also one at Summerside PEI. but that one I’ve never seen. The others I have.

[@imadequate3376]

@@xairman565 I saw the one in Comox while visiting my great uncle in Courtenay B.C. it was right there, like 20 minute drive and he recommended I go. Good to see him before he passed a few years later. We took a ferry from the states into Victoria. Vancouver Island is full of cool stuff.

[@flyingsword135]

Too bad i can't visit now that Canada is an authoritarian police state.

[@TCSC47]

Thanks for this interesting and well made video. My father was a development engineer for the CL28 and CL44 at Cartierville, back in the 50's. I remember him showing me the $200 bill danger money he got for going on test flights. I was 8 or 9 years old when he took me in one weekend and I got to sit in one of the pilots seats of the CL28 whilst they ran the engines up. Very noisy and very exciting. There was a stream that ran under the security fence on the far side of the airfield from the buildings which me and my friend used to creep along under the fence to play in burnt out and scrapped light aircraft (not military). I find it amazing in our present age of security and health and safety that we could do that! One time a Sabre jet, only a few metres away at the end of the runway, ran its engines up to what was possibly full throttle and it made my lungs vibrate! A most peculiar feeling. I remember a Christmas party for the employees' families and walking through the manufacturing plant past the half made North Stars for what seemed miles. I was disappointed that they weren't Sabres or CT133s. I got a plastic assembly kit for a F89 and I remember thinking it should have been an aircraft made by Canadair instead. I remember a Sabre breaking the sound barrier over Cartierville and Dad telling me the pilot had been suspended which I thought was a bit harsh. The pilot had only broken the windows of a supermarket after all! My father went down to California with the Sabre that Canadair had lent to Jackie Cochran to break the sound barrier. She did break the sound barrier but was not given the record for the speed because she could not make the return flight. Every Christmas after that until the mid 70's we got a Christmas card from her and several boxes of dates from her ranch. The historic airfield now all gone, under housing development. C'est la vie.

[@polyus_studios]

That's really cool! Thanks for sharing these wonderful memories!

[@stalag14]

I grew up next to Sydney Airport. Loved watching the Argus with my Dad as they occasionally landed for gas in Sydney. Excellent video.

[@dakohli]

aka "The Great Canadair Trimotor" on account of many returning home on 3 engines towards the end of their service.

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

Those old radials were getting worn out aye? The aurora I think went through 3 engine upgrades. Went from c130E engines, to the H's engines, now the J's engines. This is to ease logistics by having a common engine

[@dakohli]

@@invertedv12powerhouse77 They have certainly been talking about an upgrade for the Aurora's engines, but aside from buying new engines, they have never upgraded the actual model.

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

@@dakohli the engines are upgraded. I've seen them myself, it's easy to tell the difference since some of them have 4 blades on a prop, others have 6. The electronic suite inside is entirely different. Uncle works in those planes, they were overhauled in 2011, before that they also had the S3 Vikings electronic suite. The new upgrade got delayed cause they couldn't budget it for this year. It's the block 4 upgrade, it's a really sick upgrade coming

[@dakohli]

@@invertedv12powerhouse77 yes, the internal systems were upgraded. We are currently on block 4 of the upgrades which includes significant communications updates. But no aurora has upgraded engines at this point. We are still using T56s with 4 bladed props.

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

@@dakohli I just asked someone who works on the line, one plane is out getting fitted in the states at the moment. I thought it was done last year as planned but it probably was delayed

[@christopherbutler2700]

Really appreciate the Canadian focus. Nice work... looking forward to the CP 140.

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

Currently almost done getting the same engines as the super Hercules (J model)

[@briananthony4044]

@@invertedv12powerhouse77 Great, the Poseidon flies too high and fast and has short legs compared to it's predecessors.

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

@@briananthony4044 I think that's the sole reason why we haven't switched airframe. It's an old plane, we gonna run out of parts at some point

[@harryknibbe4998]

There is so much to be proud of in Canada's history. Thanks for telling us the story.

[@m.pearce3273]

I really love this entire channel of superior documentaries you make on Canada's long aviation history and they great planes flown by Canadian forces

[@billyproctor9714]

My dad was part of the Argus crew from 58 to 75 out of mostly Cold Lake when he retired. It was the source of many heated arguments between my parents as dad was always away or on call that ment we could go far from home. He was tight lipped on the subject until was into his 70's. Great equipment. Thanks for the video. Cheers, Billy in B.C., Canada

[@marknichols7861]

What a great video! You brought me home to NS during it. I received my pilot’s license at CFB Greenwood in 1979 and used to watch the Argus take off and landings when I was at the airport. They have such a throaty and majestic sound.

[@paulmallery6719]

Remember them in the sixties as a kid. Lived the apple bowl where the museum is now

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Mark~~These great planes had over 12,000HP with the four engines. Equipped with Wright R3350 supercharged & turbo-compounded.

[@danielvaughan1624]

Lived on Ivy street and could see my father take off at night from my bedroom window. They had a very specific sound. I remember when the flight engineer was lost.

[@noggin48]

I discovered this video, lurking around in the background, then watched it and was shocked by what I saw. Our beautiful Bristol Britannia, that use to fly over my parents house in Windsor Berkshire, direct in line with Heathrow's Number 1 Runway, "The Whispering Giant" as it was affectionately known, by their fans like me, I thought that when they were demised, that was the end of one of our masterpieces, but apparently not! Those wise Canadian's, reinvented the beautiful Bird, to create the Star of the Cold War, the Canadair CP-107 Argus. I adore turboprops, they are my favourites of all aircraft. I thought the P-3 Orion was the Ultimate Beauty, but it has just been unseated, it has got to be the Canadair CP-107 Argus, as it has that beautiful Bristol Pedigree, of the Britannia in it's DNA. Your video, just made that point quite clear, amazingly put together, not missing a point. I had to Subscribe after seeing that video, you made me oust the P-3 Orion from Top Spot, to be now be the Canadair CP-107, what a beautiful Bird, indeed !!!!

[@bakhen]

Always loved the Argus. Thanks for another great and informative video!

[@Tomcat5837]

I really enjoyed this video, I didn't know much about the Argus at all. The Argus at the Comox Air Force Museum has been much been a landmark since I've been around.

[@marcdemmon4980]

A lot of air cadets came to comox - 1970s for a seat jockey experience in most of the known propeller aircraft there Argus Hercules Buffalo Carrboro helicopter n orion

[@johnjephcote7636]

My a/c recognition was very good in the early sixties but I never knew the Argus was a result of 'kit bashing' to that extent. What a 'burek' (mongrel)!

[@robertlewis1965]

@@marcdemmon4980 Being an Air Cadet was fun . I learned lots, went many places and got more out of cadets than I put into it. You will too,if you only try. Former F/SGT R.A. LEWIS #22 SQN. ROYAL CANADIAN AIR CADETS . Powell River. 1971-1977.

[@gregparrott]

Excellently detailed! Thanks for documenting this part of aviation history.

[@perrybonney9090]

I was a civilian flight instructor at The Slemon Park Flying Club on CFB Summerside, back during the Summer of 1980. The sound of those 4 mammoth Argus engines at full throttle was absolutely impressive. (I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t referenced in the video. But I guess you can’t mention absolutely everything in a video.). The ground shook, the windows rattled, and you could feel your intestines vibrating inside of you, when they were taking off. When I was a flight student over at the Moncton Flying Club over in New Brunswick, the resident “large” aircraft, there at Moncton Airport , was the Ministry of Transport’s DC-3 (“C-FMOT”, if memory serves. I don’t think they even started the engines once, on that thing, the whole time I was there. But I digress….) Anyway, an Argus would fly over from Summerside and practice touch and goes, from time to time. The presence of the Argus at the airport would make the DC-3 seem like a little toy in comparison. But after the Argus departed for Summerside, the DC-3,would resume looking big again, certainly in comparison with all of the little Piper Cherokees and Tomahawks there at the flying club. I found out later, after I became a flight instructor at the Slemon Park Flying Club that the pilot of the Argus that flew over to Moncton NB, from time to time, was also a flying instructor at the flying club that I worked at. I still remember his name, too. Claude Lavasseur. I learned only a couple of months ago that CFB Summerside isn’t even a base anymore. Just a civilian airport, nowadays.

[@teddyduncan1046]

It is so nice to have a channel on Canadian aircraft. Thank You!

[@andrewdavisca]

My father served 32 years in the RCAF. 18 years as flight crew in both the CP-107 Mk1 and Mk2 Argus and the CP-140 Aurora. His position as a Flight Navigator for the 404, 405, 415 and 407 squadron. Fondest childhood memory was the opportunity to fly in a MK2 in m 1980 for a Military Family Day celebration. Got to sit in my Dads Nav station. Coolest thing ever. It was the last year they allowed that opportunity as m they were start the process of decommissioning the Argus. So very proud of my Dad as well as my uncle who was a Pilot in the same squadrons at that same period of time and served for 33 years as well. They are great men to look up too.

[@erictremblay4940]

Super video, thanks! I saw the Argus in 1975 at Val d'Or, during an air show.

[@matthewmunro8676]

I'm so happy I found this

[@johnandrews3568]

Love the old lightning bolt RCAF paint schemes... awesome vid.

[@Chuck59ish]

In 1982 we had an Argus show up at CFB Chatham, New Brunswick for vthe airshow, as the Argus got to it's assigned parking spot, they opened the rear Bomb bay and 4 drip trays crashed to the ground, and the crew that had driven up from CFBG Greenwood hauled the oversized drip trays under the engines to save the concrete from any excess oil that always leaked out of a hot radial engine.

[@tonybezanson9625]

I can't help watching this and thinking my Grandfather is in here unseen. He was an observer at CFB Greenwood for many years

[@Zitropat]

Excellent dossier. This is a great complement of the documentary I've seen on YT showing the design, development and production of the Argus.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Wow, such a relief when the music stopped half way through. You do a great job and I thoroughly enjoy your videos.

[@ELMS]

Terrific job. I always look forward to seeing your videos.

[@nasur5091]

Amazing video! Cant wait for more!

[@rampmony]

An excellent documentary. Just today, I was reading about technical videos. After seeing this video, I can say that I have now seen a first-rate example of a technical video.

[@AmbientMusicStudio]

I lived near CFB Comox in the mid 1970s into the early 1980s. The sound of the Argus taking off and flying overhead was very common, and a sound I always loved to hear. Between the Argus and the Voodoos it seemed there was always a CAF presence overhead. I remember being excited when the new Orions arrived but I never thought they were as bad ass as the Argus. Of course the Orion is superior for the role, but those big radial engines gave the Argus a menacing sense of power.

[@nomadicone69]

I remember being at CFB Summerside as kid in the early '70's--these things would roar overhead. When the Aurora came out, it seemed to whisper in comparison.

[@ant-1382]

Got to take a flight on the Argus. was in the air cadets at the time. Just 14 -15 years old. Flew out over the ocean at low altitude. got to sit in the nose buble, cool!

[@maxsdad538]

America called it the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, UK) Gap, and I have many hundreds (thousands?) of hours flying patrols in a USAF EC-121 out of NAS Keflavic, including the last mission before the E-3 AWACS took over. I also spent several months as mission coordinator in OPCON (in the top of the P-3 hanger), the tactical headquarters for the Icelandic Defense Force (joint USAF/Navy), and scared myself shitless seeing ALL the Soviet submarines patrolling the Eastern Seaboard and the North Atlantic. You ASW boys (Canadian, British, American) sure worked your butts off, and I was honored to share the skies with you.

[@pibbles-a-plenty1105]

Excellent and thorough historical aircraft narrative. The Argus was certainly a cold war peace and security workhorse little appreciated here in the US. Thanks!

[@JJE2010MO]

Super video, thank you for posting it!

[@perambulatingmike]

Excellent video and description of this aircraft...thank you!

[@peterszar]

It's nice to hear a narrator who knows how to pronounce words correctly. And he actually presents pretty accurate information, and the proper photos that are related the subject described. I think I'll subscribe and give this fella a chance, I'll see if he passes muster, ha ha

[@edwardbach5893]

He doesn't know how to pronounce the word buoy. It is from the word buoyant and is pronounced boy, not booee. Nothing in its spelling suggests booee either. That is just plain wrong. Pet peeve.

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Eduard Bach~ Why did you contradict the Polyus Studios narrator? This is the best video on the Argus that has ever been offered to youtubers. It's BOY to U, but it's BOOWEE to the rest of the US.

[@edwardbach5893]

@@rogertycholiz2218 Sure, good video, but the statement on pronunciation is simply wrong. It is a common American mispronunciation. One of many.

[@MrHog-fj7gr]

my grandfather was a systems tech on the Argus. he eventually made his way to a general rank and he oversaw the transfer to the aroura. he left the RCAF as a 2-star general and went on to be a private instructor. he passed away early last year. I'll never forget looking at the model argus and aroura in his office. I still have his old helmet with a big RCAF roundel on the plastic visor cover. he told this story about how on a training mission with a Russian sub, he couldn't find the submarine and was going in circles with an open Bombay. What my Granpa didn't know is the sub was right under him, so the Russian Captian managed to take a photo of his open Bombay and mailed it to my grandfather. So as payback the next time they were training together my grandpa took a photo of the Russians periscope and sent a photo of it to him. My grandpa was also the first Canadian to step foot in Russia as a peace delegate during the cold war.

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

damn, your grandpa was quite the man. If you ever get a chance, let whatever way you ever say a thanks to him to give him a salute for me, will you? that kind of greatness like having quite the sense of humour to give the head sardine of that sub a taste of his own medicine sounds like quite a great guy to be around!

[@rallymodeller]

Outstanding as usual. Looking forward to the inevitable CC106 Yukon/CL-44 video

[@JTkirk21508]

Another Good video my dude, Keep up the good work.

[@radarmike6713]

CL 28/CP-107 Argus Mark II fail #10732 is on display at the National Air Force Museum at 8 Wing in Trenton Ontario. 732 was purchased in 1958. And flew maritime costal patrol with 415 (swordfish) Sqn in Sommerside PEI. She served there her entire career till retirement in 1982. She served 24 yrs to the defense of Canada's coasts. She was brought to the museum in 1995. She also sits about 50 ft from CP 140 Aurora

[@av8tor261]

Thank you for posting. Well done!

[@Roadghost88]

I remember these planes. Even to this day I can't say I have ever heard a plane that was so loud and easy to hear coming. Like constant rolling thunder. I was glad when they were replaced with the Orion.

[@twotailedavenger]

Loud ASW planes seem to be a trend - the Russians use a modified version of the Tu-95 as a long-range MP aircraft, and that thing screams so loud that when it's at low altitude, some subs can pick it up on their sonar.

[@gryph01]

I wanted to fly the Aurora, but I joined the Army instead. You practically need a physics degree to be a pilot in the RCAF.

[@Zenigotcha]

My supply teacher in elementary school, Mr. Irving, was a sonar operator on the Neptune, CP1-7 Argus, and the Aurora. He passed away a while back but I remember me and him chatting about his experiences in them with me even staying during recess to hear his story. I remember asking him to sign that agenda of mine cause I felt truly honored by being in his presence and he gladly did so. Ever since finding out he passed away, I immediately decide to go to CFB Trenton's Air Museum to see the CP1-7 Argus displayed there in his honour and was truly amazed by the size of the aircraft. I just wish that I could of seen it with him but ya, excellent video on this extremely underrated Canadian aircraft.

[@billnelles9769]

Thank you so much for covering this important work as it morphed from an anti u boat weapon to sub hunter. My grandfather was the Commander in Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy until 1944 when he was transferred to D Day duties. He would’ve been very pleased to see such an interesting documentary sadly I never knew him as he died in the early 50’s. He cared enormously about Canada’s ability to provide as much of its own materials of war as he had seen how Canada had been denied adequate radar facilities for its escort duties of food and supply convoys at the start of WW2. Again thank you for producing such a clear Canadian orientated documentary.

[@lohikarhu734]

Thanks for a very interesting and thorough coverage of this aircraft, and its operations!

[@maximelarocque2708]

Thanks for this beautifull short film. My dad was a navigator onboard the argus. He never talked about it

[@davidwebber8636]

Very informative. Thanks for posting.

[@mh53j]

Canada retired Neptune's in 1968? Argentina finally pulled theirs out of service DURING the Falklands War in 1982. They did fly a few missions but apparently posed more of a threat to the crews than the British did. Think I remember reading they had to replace the "crystals" in the radios several times during one particular flight! Poor planes just worn out.

[@rEdf196]

I remember the Argus in my childhood and teen years in the 1970’s seeing it flying over.my area on many occasions. The last time I saw an Argus was in November 1978 and was replaced by the turboprop Electra/Orion derived CP-140 Aurora.

[@nfarnell1]

Your Video was/is top notch, Many Airmen spent many hours on guard for us all.

[@navret1707]

The Canadians are now flying the P-3 Orion. I flew 3000+ hours in P-3’s and it was a great aircraft. We now have the P-8 Poseidon.

[@690_5]

My Opa always talked about the Argus. He said you could feel it take off from the ATC Tower even though it was on the other end of the runway.

[@TMulvale]

Thank you so much for doing this video !!!!

[@mattwheeler702]

Your videos are very well done. Far more information and detail than any of the other similar channels I've been watching and subscribed to.

[@slartybartfast6868]

Great show, Thanks for the info.

[@wilflundy]

This plane retired in July of 1981. Just down the road in Cornwallis NS from Greenwood, I was just starting my military career.

[@malakiblunt]

excellent production ,and the music provides just the right ambiance ,

[@artsmith1347]

Disagree on the music. The percusions (drum and bell) were annoying.

[@LowsJuan]

The acoustic signature of an Argus was unmistakable simply because it was so loud. It has to be one of the loudest piston engine powered planes of its era. Never saw one close up but we would hear them fly overhead inside our junior high in Moncton. Have no idea why they frequented the area unless it was on the flight-path from Greenwood or Summerside. Very nice segment on such a valued member of North American defence.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Good to hear SOME made it to museums. I hate it when a certain type of aircraft gets retired and ALL the airframes are scrapped.

[@danielvaughan1624]

There's one at the entrance to CFB Greenwood that my father flew more than once (identifiable by its fuselage number and his flight log), and also one I've seen at the Air Force Museum in Trenton. This same museum will also be rebuilding a Lancaster using the Maritime Command colours, to go with the Halifax that was put on display a few years back.

[@dehman8174]

Excellent job... great video😀

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

Thanks for letting us know, great vid!!!

[@bobswan6196]

Saw a couple of these in Gibraltar in the early 70's. As I recall, they seemed to be in competition with Shackletons in terms of engine volume!

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

I never heard a Shackleton but I heard the Argus a lot in my youth. Every window in Dartmouth would shake when they took off and landed from Shearwater. I never knew they had a total of 13,600 horsepower. That would explain the high noise level.

[@LowsJuan]

The only reason I knew of the existence of the Argus was that they were so loud they could be heard inside our junior high. Being at least 120 miles from Cornwallis I would assume they were flying at 10,000ft. Even at that height, they were loud. They flew over on a regular basis and I never did figure out their flight path. We were in Moncton, N.B. around 1972 to 1974 and divergent from a direct route to Summerside.

[@ThePirate04]

Sorry my friend, the shacks only had RR griffins, counter rotating props. not even close to the Argus engine on take off. I flew on North Stars in the 50's the Rolls on the star was loud enough.

[@frankhuber9912]

Another great video... and great content like this elicits all sorts of interesting comments. Top notch.

[@lecco666]

Absolutely brilliant piece.

[@lancecason]

Very well made and informative !

[@markrooney6406]

The Argus, Attempting “to land in fog and strong winds” clipped an “Orion” due to the fog and strong winds. Guys it was a great video jam packed with information, great images and interesting history. HOWEVER FOG AND HIGH WINDS, that is not possible winds with fog max out between 5/8 knots so what was it kids the fog OR the high winds. One or the other but NOT BOTH. Just my two bobs worth. May I say it again a ripper doco, Thank you very much. Keep it up.😵‍💫☮️💟and all that other stuff ☯️🇦🇺🦘🤙🤩😁