The CP-107 Argus was a great aircraft, perhaps the best of the Maritime Patrol aircraft of its day.  It was produced by Canadair Limited in Montreal and was known with as the CL-28.  It was powered by four Wright Cyclone turbo-compound engines, each producing 3700 horsepower and driving a three-bladed Curtis-Wright electric propeller.  It had a wingspan of 142 feet, 3 inches, was 128 feet 3 inches in length and stood 36 feet 8 ½ inches high at the tail.  It weighed 81,000 pounds empty and 148,000 pounds fully laden with fuel.  It cruised at 207 mph and had a maximum speed of 290 mph.  It had a service ceiling of 24,200 feet and a range of 4,000 miles.  While in service, it once flew 4,570 miles without refuelling and on yet another flight it achieved an in-flight endurance of 31 hours.

Canadair produced 33 aircraft in two versions; the Mark I, beginning with 20710, and the Mark II, beginning with 20723, the difference being the search radar (the serials were later changed to 10 prefix from the earlier 20 prefix).  The first aircraft rolled out on December 21, 1956 got its “Argus” name and made its first flight March 28, 1957.  The last aircraft came off the line July 13, 1960.  It began operational flying August 11 and subsequently flew with all four Maritime Patrol squadrons – 404, 4-5, 407 and 415.  Operations included anti-submarine patrols, Search and Rescue, and Arctic Sovereignty Patrols.  Two aircraft were lost during its life which lasted until May 1981.

The painting of 10723, the first of the Mark II models, was completed by Wing Commander Arne Lehn.  W/C Lehn joined the RCAF in 1940, trained as a pilot and completed 85 operational missions in the African and Mediterranean theatres flying Blenheims, Baltimores and Liberators.  In the post-war RCAF, he served with 404 Squadron as Operations Officer and then as Commanding Officer of 405 Squadron.

After his retirement in 1970, Arne served briefly with the Federal Public Service followed by a 20-year career in the Vancouver Real Estate business.  Sometime after retirement, Arne took up painting as a hobby and is now a member of the South Delta Artists Guild in Tsawwassen, BC where his paintings, mainly non-aircraft subjects, are on display in art shows sponsored by the Guild.  He is also a member of the Air Force Association and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.

This painting depicts Argus 10723, the last aircraft Arne flew, over a submarine on an Atlantic patrol.