Harvard 80th Anniversary Ardmore Forum Meet!!
Mar 2, 2021 21:14:16 GMT 12
skyhawkdon, ErrolC, and 3 more like this
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 2, 2021 21:14:16 GMT 12
I am pleased to announce that in association with New Zealand Warbirds Association, we will be holding a special day at Ardmore Airport on Sunday the 25th of April 2021. The purpose is to mark the 80th Anniversary to the very day of the first flight in New Zealand of a North American Harvard trainer.
NZ901, the RNZAF's first Harvard, was test flown on the 25th of April 1941 at RNZAF Station Hobsonville, starting a continuous legacy for New Zealand aviation. The Harvard brought the RNZAF training system into the modern era at the time, with the type replacing the open cockpit, fixed undercarriage biplanes that had been used for advanced flying training previously. The US-built trainer was adopted by No's 1, 2 and 3 Service Flying Training Schools, and the Central Flying School. And the Harvard also became important in the home based Fighter squadrons, and in the Fighter Operational Training Units. They also supplemented or replaced the Hinds and Vincents in the Army Co-operation Squadrons, and it was used in the communications role with the likes of No. 42 Squadron. Postwar the Harvard stayed on as a pilot trainer and also a Forward Air Controller right up till the 1970's.
When the last of the RNZAF Harvards retired they were sold off in 1978 to civilian interests and several formed the nucleus of New Zealand Warbirds Association, and the whole warbirds movement in New Zealand. Harvards are regularly seen at airshows and other events around New Zealand, and these days there are Harvards based at and flying from Ardmore, Tauranga, Gisborne, Ohakea, Paraparaumu, and Omaka, with more being restored. Harvard NZ1044 will soon return to the sky and be based at Masterton, where the first fighter squadron Harvards were based with No's 488 and 14 Squadrons.
To celebrate the significant anniversary of the first flight of this very significant aeroplane type in New Zealand, we are planning a WONZ Forum Meet at Ardmore. This will be on ANZAC Day so the Harvards and other warbirds will be in action in the morning, taking off to do a flypast of the Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. We can watch their departure and their return.
And we will have guest speakers from among the various Harvard pilots, who will talk a little about the Harvard, and also about other interesting warbirds and aviation topics. This is being supported by a number of Harvard and warbird owners and pilots, and there's hope that we may even have RNZAF participation since the Harvard was so significant to the Air Force. I will post more details as they are confirmed, but right now please save the date, for a very special ANZAC Day event.
Sunday 25th of April 2021
Start probably around 10.00am (TBC)
Guest Speakers
Harvards ANZAC Flypast Ops
Probably a Raffle too!
TICKETS
Tickets to this event will be $20 per person, with the proceeds going to the NZ Warbirds at Ardmore Museum.
If you are planning to come along to this event, you need to pre-register by emailing me now to go onto the door list. Contact me at dave_daasnz@hotmail.com
We will take the $20 from you as you arrive at the door.
SPEAKERS
First Speaker Announcement!
Keith Skilling will be one of the guest speakers! Keith flew Harvards in the RNZAF, and he led the Roaring 40's team for several years. He is also a past-owner of a Harvard. He will speak about his experience with Harvards, and he'll also give a talk on flying warbirds with the Breitling Fighters team.
Second Speaker Announcement!
Gavin Trethewey will also be one of the guest speakers! Gavin flew Harvards in the RNZAF, and has flown Harvards with the Roaring 40's team over the years, and in more recent times he performs a beautiful Harvard solo routine in NZ1092 (ZK-WAR) at numerous airshows. He is one of New Zealand's most experienced Harvard pilots, if not the most experienced. Gavin will also speak about the current NZ Warbirds project to restore the English Electric Canberra bomber, which he is team leader on. Gavin flew Canberras in the RNZAF and was also the Canberra solo display pilot.
Third Speaker Announcement!
Frank Parker will also be one of the guest speakers! Frank flew Harvards in the RNZAF, and was an instructor. He led the Roaring 40's team for many years, and he is the New Zealand Warbirds Association President. Frank will also speak about a NZ Warbirds topic, most likely their collection of WWI aeroplanes.
Fourth Speaker Announcement!
John 'JK' Kelly will also be one of the guest speakers! John flies Harvard NZ1053 in the Roaring Forties. He is NZ Warbirds Vice-President, and he is very involved in running the NZ Warbirds @ Ardmore Museum, and the Warbirds Open Day events. JK will talk about civil Harvard training, rides and the planned Harvard and Auckland circa WW2 displays in the hangar.
NZ901, the RNZAF's first Harvard, was test flown on the 25th of April 1941 at RNZAF Station Hobsonville, starting a continuous legacy for New Zealand aviation. The Harvard brought the RNZAF training system into the modern era at the time, with the type replacing the open cockpit, fixed undercarriage biplanes that had been used for advanced flying training previously. The US-built trainer was adopted by No's 1, 2 and 3 Service Flying Training Schools, and the Central Flying School. And the Harvard also became important in the home based Fighter squadrons, and in the Fighter Operational Training Units. They also supplemented or replaced the Hinds and Vincents in the Army Co-operation Squadrons, and it was used in the communications role with the likes of No. 42 Squadron. Postwar the Harvard stayed on as a pilot trainer and also a Forward Air Controller right up till the 1970's.
When the last of the RNZAF Harvards retired they were sold off in 1978 to civilian interests and several formed the nucleus of New Zealand Warbirds Association, and the whole warbirds movement in New Zealand. Harvards are regularly seen at airshows and other events around New Zealand, and these days there are Harvards based at and flying from Ardmore, Tauranga, Gisborne, Ohakea, Paraparaumu, and Omaka, with more being restored. Harvard NZ1044 will soon return to the sky and be based at Masterton, where the first fighter squadron Harvards were based with No's 488 and 14 Squadrons.
To celebrate the significant anniversary of the first flight of this very significant aeroplane type in New Zealand, we are planning a WONZ Forum Meet at Ardmore. This will be on ANZAC Day so the Harvards and other warbirds will be in action in the morning, taking off to do a flypast of the Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. We can watch their departure and their return.
And we will have guest speakers from among the various Harvard pilots, who will talk a little about the Harvard, and also about other interesting warbirds and aviation topics. This is being supported by a number of Harvard and warbird owners and pilots, and there's hope that we may even have RNZAF participation since the Harvard was so significant to the Air Force. I will post more details as they are confirmed, but right now please save the date, for a very special ANZAC Day event.
Sunday 25th of April 2021
Start probably around 10.00am (TBC)
Guest Speakers
Harvards ANZAC Flypast Ops
Probably a Raffle too!
TICKETS
Tickets to this event will be $20 per person, with the proceeds going to the NZ Warbirds at Ardmore Museum.
If you are planning to come along to this event, you need to pre-register by emailing me now to go onto the door list. Contact me at dave_daasnz@hotmail.com
We will take the $20 from you as you arrive at the door.
SPEAKERS
First Speaker Announcement!
Keith Skilling will be one of the guest speakers! Keith flew Harvards in the RNZAF, and he led the Roaring 40's team for several years. He is also a past-owner of a Harvard. He will speak about his experience with Harvards, and he'll also give a talk on flying warbirds with the Breitling Fighters team.
Second Speaker Announcement!
Gavin Trethewey will also be one of the guest speakers! Gavin flew Harvards in the RNZAF, and has flown Harvards with the Roaring 40's team over the years, and in more recent times he performs a beautiful Harvard solo routine in NZ1092 (ZK-WAR) at numerous airshows. He is one of New Zealand's most experienced Harvard pilots, if not the most experienced. Gavin will also speak about the current NZ Warbirds project to restore the English Electric Canberra bomber, which he is team leader on. Gavin flew Canberras in the RNZAF and was also the Canberra solo display pilot.
Third Speaker Announcement!
Frank Parker will also be one of the guest speakers! Frank flew Harvards in the RNZAF, and was an instructor. He led the Roaring 40's team for many years, and he is the New Zealand Warbirds Association President. Frank will also speak about a NZ Warbirds topic, most likely their collection of WWI aeroplanes.
Fourth Speaker Announcement!
John 'JK' Kelly will also be one of the guest speakers! John flies Harvard NZ1053 in the Roaring Forties. He is NZ Warbirds Vice-President, and he is very involved in running the NZ Warbirds @ Ardmore Museum, and the Warbirds Open Day events. JK will talk about civil Harvard training, rides and the planned Harvard and Auckland circa WW2 displays in the hangar.