Canadian Car and Foundry FDB

In 1938 at a time when monoplane fighters were replacing biplanes, Canadian Car and Foundry employed Michael Gregor to design a biplane fighter/dive-bomber (hence the FDB name). It is often also called the Gregor FDB.

Initial claims were that it would reach 300mph with a  700 hp (520 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 engine. However when tested the sole prototype only reached 260mph, although this was without military equipment such as guns and armour. Although a 750hp (560 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1535-SB4-G was estimated to bring the speed up to 300mph this was not undertaken. Evaluation by the Royal Canadian Air Force determined that further refinements were unlikely to improve the aircraft’s performance and no further interest was shown in the design.

An attempt was made to secure overseas interest. Mexico was a potential customer but the Canadian Government refused an export licence. The prototype was destroyed in a hanger fire in 1945.