Ex RAF Harvards

[kiwi]

Most of our Harvards came from the US , how many ex RAF Harvards ended up here ?

[Bruce]

All the RNZAF Harvards were built for the RAF, but diverted directly from the USA under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. They were built to British "Harvard" specs rather than US T6 specs. At some stage they would have been allocated UK serial numbers, but few if any would have actually worn them. Some did come from the Noordyn company in Canada under the same arrangement. I dont think we received any "second Hand" examples, but I could be wrong.

[Dave Homewood]

I thought the Mk II models were in the British cockpit layout, and the Mk III were in the US layout with throttle on the other side and toe brakes, etc. I was told this by a collector who has one of each. Is that incorrect?

[Bruce]

That probably is correct, however the Spec was probably changed as they were still BCATP batch machines.

[kiwi]

What about NZ1100 ?

[flyjoe180]

I've flown in Harvard II and III's, can't say I noticed anything unusual about the layout of the cockpit. The only difference might have been instrumentation. NZ901-1005 were Harvard II's, NZ1006-1057, NZ1070 IIa, NZ1100-1102 MkIIb, and NZ1058-1069 NZ1071-1099 Harvard III's.

A more comprehensive history of serials here:
adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz901.shtml

[Bruce]

The mark IIs are externally identifiable by the different framing on the rearmost canopy framing, and originally had wooden rear fuselages. They were later retrofitted with metal rear fuselages to become mark IIA's (the canopies were often changed at this time, although most of the Mark IIs disposed of at Bennetts in Te Kuiti still had the original frames). later again a change in electrical system from 12 to 24 volts turned them into IIA* 's which were essentially identical to the later mark IIIs. There were originally some minor differences in instrumentation, but with the progressive upgrades most become standardised in service.