This fonds consists of records relating to the life and career of aeronautical engineer Ralph Waechter. Included here are textual records, photographic material, and publications relating to the scientific research mainly on (but not limited to) the C-102 Jetliner and the CF-105 Avro Arrow. These records document pioneering aeronautical engineering work that occurred in Canada during the 1940s and 1950s at A.V. Roe Ltd. There are also documents relating to Waechter's later work in the United States and Canada. The fonds consists of: handwritten notes; typewritten reports; graphs and drawings; photos; and publications. The fonds includes: Educational records, such as University of Toronto Engineering Society Year Books (1945-1948); University of Toronto Class Lists (1945-46); and Ralph Waechter's University of Toronto B.A.Sc. thesis titled "The Future of Propellers with the Advent of the Gas Turbine and the Jet Engine," submitted January 5, 1948. A..V. Roe records, such as a report on the Avro Arrow test flight that achieved the aircraft's highest speed (November 1958); a trip report covering a visit by Avro & RCAF staff to Edwards Air Force Base for the purpose of discussing methods of testing supersonic aircraft (future Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper served as an escort for the Canadian visitors on the base). (Sept. 26, 1958); fuel consumption and other performance graphs for the Avro Jetliner; AVRO News Magazines (internal company publication) including includes a Special First Flight Issue, re. Avro Arrow; a selection of photos showing Avro Jetliner, Canuck, and Arrow; A.V. Roe annual reports, and A.V. Roe Share Certificate, 1956; a certificate for Ralph Waechter's Membership in A. V. Roe's Ten Year Club, 1958; and a severance pay letter from A.V. Roe, 1959. Post A.V. Roe records (United States and Canada), such as reports, photos, publications, and correspondence relating to American Airlines, R. Dixon Speas Associates (RDSA), Aero Performance Inc. (API), De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, and Canadair Limited.
Waechter, Ralph William, 1926-2012 : Ralph William Waechter (1926-2012) was born in Kitchener, Ontario, studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Toronto from 1944-1948. After graduating, he was hired in 1948 to work as aeronautical engineer, a flight-test engineer, and experimental aerodynamicist, at A.V. Roe Canada Ltd. in Malton, Ontario. He worked on, among other things the C-102 Jetliner and the CF-105 Avro Arrow. Following the cancelation of the Avro Arrow in 1959, he moved to Long Island, New York where he worked for six years at American Airlines and two years at a consulting company, Aero Performance Inc. He returned to Canada in 1967, working at De Havilland Aircraft in Downsview, Ontario and later at Canadair near Montreal. He retired in 1988.
A.V. Roe Canada : A. V. Roe Canada Ltd. was established in 1945. The company was a wholly owned subsidiary of the U.K-based Hawker-Siddeley Group, named after Alliot Verdon Roe, founder of A. V. Roe Co. of England in 1910. A.V. Roe Canada started operations in the Crown-owned Victory Aircraft facilities in Malton, Ontario. Due to a decrease in war plane production following the war, A.V. Roe Canada turned its attention to design and development of new fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force and transport aircraft for Trans-Canada Airlines. In addition, some Lancasters were converted for air line service, and in l946, the Gas Turbine Division (later Orenda Engines) was formed to develop jet engines for future Avro aircraft. Through the 1950s many aircraft projects were developed. Following the cancellation of the CF-105 Arrow development and production, Avro Aircraft attempted to diversify, extending its operations to marine, truck and automobile projects. Unfortunately this plan failed and on 30 April 1962 A.V. Roe Canada closed its Aircraft Division at Malton, leaving only Orenda Engines as the Canadian operation within the Hawker-Siddeley Group. "A. V. Roe Canada Ltd. (Avro Aircraft)." Toronto Aerospace Museum web-site. 26 Feb. 2002. 3018564
