Challenger: An Industrial Romance
| Challenger: An Industrial Romance | |
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Screenshot: Title frame
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| Directed by |
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| Produced by | Stephen Low |
| Written by | Stephen Low |
| Narrated by | Stephen Low |
| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Roger Hart |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / CBC Television |
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Release date
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Running time
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57 min., 23 sec. |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Challenger: An Industrial Romance is a 1980 Canadian documentary film, produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). The documentary follows the development of Canadair's Challenger, a business jet airliner.
Arising form a moribund aviation company, in the 1970s, the new Canadair Challenger business jet on the drawing board was a risky proposition. Derived from a design by American inventor and aircraft developer Bill Lear, Canadair Chief Designer Harry Halton married a wide-body fuselage with a high performance ("supercritical") wing and state-of-the-art engines. With banks and the then federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce Jean Chrétien requiring 50 "firm orders", a Canadair sales team was dispatched to sell a "paper aircraft" with only sales brochures, scale models and a wooden mock-up to go on. The innovative Challenger design boasted industry-leading performance. It promised to be faster, cheaper to fly, and more comfortable than any other business jet.
With orders of 56 aircraft from North America, Europe and the Middle East, Canadair's top management, headed by Frederick Kearns, gave a "go" to the Challenger project. As the first prototype was completed, competitors touted their "off-the shelf" availability. Although months late, the Challenger was finally unveiled and prepared for its maiden flight, piloted by Canadair Chief Test Pilot Doug Adkins. After successful tests at the company plant in Montreal, the Challenger was flown to Mojave, California, to complete its arduous flight testing in order to obtain its certification for worldwide operation.
Stephen Low began work in 1977 on the film after seeing a Globe and Mail article on the Challenger project. After successfully approaching Canadair with his idea for a documentary, Low was able obtain support from Roman Kroitor, head of the drama studio at the National Film Board of Canada. Kroiter would later act as the executive producer on the project. Additional support came from the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce and Minister Jean Chrétien, who agreed to finance the film as a co-production with the NFB.
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