At this time, Avro Canada was deeply involved with the Canadian government and the RCAF in the design of the replacement for the CF-100, the CF-105 Avro Arrow. The totally Canadian-designed Arrow with its guidance system, weapon systems and Orenda Iroquois jet engine was to become the main focus of the company's future activities. The Avro Arrow was not the only innovative design project that was underway by the company. This remarkable team also was involved in an incredible number of progressive designs that "pushed the envelope" in many directions. It was estimated that 70 percent of Canada's research and development endeavors were being carried out by A.V. Roe Canada at this time. Most of these paper projects only remained in the conceptional stage but were a remarkable vision of the future. In the recesses of the factory, another aircraft project was beginning to come alive under the direction of John Frost. As it worked out, it was soon after his leaving the CF-100 design team, that Frost presented his ideas to Avro management at Malton and the Special Projects Group was formed.

Research undertaken by Frost on the "Coanda Effect" confirmed that the concept of ground cushion could be the basis for a vehicle he had envisioned that could have both have VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capabilities and could still operate as a high-performance aircraft. As Frost developed further studies, his ideas on revolutionary vertical takeoff systems led to the patent of "the air cushion effect" (U.S. Patent Serial No.376,320, August 23, 1953). The patent is often described as the "Frost patent".

Frost's ideas revolved around a disk or saucer shape- a "flying saucer" and resulted in exceptional number of patents in Great Britain, the United States and Canada on the unique concepts of propulsion, control and stabilization systems that were incorporated. By July 1952, the concept was code named Project Y and the design group had not only completed a number of research reports but had also constructed a wooden mock-up. Avro Canada and the Canadian government through the Defence Research Board financed the initial development work until 1954. The project gained momentum and controversy. Other designers at Avro Canada were doubtful of the revolutionary project's chance of success and there was pressure from the Canadian government through C.D. Howe's office to concentrate on only the successful CF-100 and Orenda programs.

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