Chasing the Arrow by Charles Reid

Robbie Carter is adjusting to his new life in late-1950s Toronto with his single mother, an engineer with the airplane manufacturer A.V. Roe. One night, waking to the buzz of voices, Robbie creeps downstairs and makes an astonishing discovery. His mother and her colleagues are working on plans for the Avro Arrow, a new fighter jet capable of unheard-of speeds! Determined not to miss a word, Robbie continues to spy on their meetings.