The CF-29A Snow Leopard, developed in 1979 in collaboration with Canadair, was Canada’s answer to the need for a fast, rugged supersonic interceptor optimized for Arctic quick-reaction duty. Built around a clean, aerodynamic airframe with lessons borrowed from the SCF-29 Kestrel, the single-seat CF-29A paired a pulse-Doppler radar and simplified but hardened avionics with a weapons fit centered on AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided missiles for beyond-visual-range interception and AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles for close-in engagements. Canadair’s pragmatic design choices—easy maintenance in remote basing, cold-weather systems hardening, and simple but effective cockpit ergonomics for single-pilot NORAD intercept missions—gave the Snow Leopard reliability and longevity, making it a workhorse QRA platform until later modernization programs expanded the Leopard family.
CF-29B twin-seater variant available here:
Specifications
Spotlights
- calli 2 months ago
General Characteristics
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 25.7ft (7.8m)
- Length 44.3ft (13.5m)
- Height 16.4ft (5.0m)
- Empty Weight 12,552lbs (5,693kg)
- Loaded Weight 21,985lbs (9,972kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 5.366
- Wing Loading 65.2lbs/ft2 (318.5kg/m2)
- Wing Area 337.0ft2 (31.3m2)
- Drag Points 3998
Parts
- Number of Parts 88
- Control Surfaces 5
- Performance Cost 554
