Harvard, Freighter Replacement Options

[Dave Homewood]

This article appeared in The Press, on the 13th of June 1969. I knew that the Strikemaster and the Macchi MB326 were considered, but it is interesting they were also looking at the CL-41 (aka the Avro Tutor from Canada). I don't think that was mentioned by Larry Olsen when I interviewed him about the Strikemaster selection, here

Does anyone know what all the types were considered as possible Freighter replacements? Was the Andover on their list at this time?


Harvards To Go In Early 70s

The Royal New Zealand Air Force expected to replace its ageing Harvard training aircraft early in the 1970s, the Chief of Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal C. A. Turner) said in Christchurch yesterday. At the Wigram base, where he was making his farewell visit, Air Marshal Turner said that it was intended to replace the Harvard with a jet trainer. It was unlikely that the selected jet trainer would work from Wigram. The location of jet training had not been decided.

“We have looked at a number of aircraft and what might be described as the short list has narrowed down to the Aermacchi 326, the BAC 167 and the CL41,” he said.

The Italian Aermacchi 326 is used for basic training by the Royal Australian Air Force and is produced in Australia; the British Aircraft Corporation’s 167 is a development from the Jet Provost; and the CL41 is a Canadian jet trainer. Asked if it was possible that the R.N.Z.A.F. might tag on to the Australian production line, he said that this would be a sensible arrangement.

The other aircraft in need of replacement is the Bristol Freighter which the Air Marshal described as “a sterling aircraft.” He said it was intended to replace the freighter about the same time as the Harvards.

“For this replacement we have looked at about 19 types of aircraft but there is nothing like a short list at this time. There is still a lot of life in the old freighters,” he said.

Air Marshal Turner described the Air Force as being in good heart and a force at a high state of readiness.

Soon after his arrival at Wigram aboard a V.I.P. Devon aircraft, Air Marshal Turner was greeted by the officer commanding the Training Group (Air Commodore A. S. Agar) and a guard of honour, of 50 men, commanded by Flight Lieutenant H. H. Francis.

Later he visited the sergeants’ mess where he presented long service and good conduct medals to Flight Sergeants J. Wright and C. H. Chambers, and to Sergeant J. Oliver. All three are Englishmen who enlisted in the R.N.Z.A.F. in Britain.

Early last evening Air Marshal Turner, who is accompanied by Mrs Turner, attended a cocktail party in the officers’ mess.

[30sqnatc]

Interesting article. Very different times for reporting on defence happenings. We wouldn't read that level of detail on a defence acquisition today.

[Dave Homewood]

This followed up the above article, in The Press on 7 July 1969. Were they seriously thinking that they could do all flying training in a jet at that time?

Also, I understood that Sir Henry Wigram gifted the base to the Crown/NZ People, not just the people of Canterbury. Am I right?

USE OF WIGRAM

The airfield at Wigram will still be required for use by the Royal New Zealand Air Force after jet training aircraft are introduced in the 1970s.

This information has been given by Mr J. L. Jenkins, Deputy Secretary of Defence (Air) in reply to a correspondent, “Private Pilot,” who asked whether the airfield would be returned to the people.

In his letter “Private Pilot” says: “Air Vice-Marshal Turner has stated that when jet training aircraft are introduced in the 1970 s they will not be used from Wigram. As Wigram was given to the people of Canterbury by Sir Henry Wigram for the encouragement of aviation, can it be taken that the Air Force will return the airfield to the people? Light aircraft are coming under continual harassment by the authorities at Harewood, and when Wigram becomes available its use will enable a complete separation of scheduled airlines and sport aircraft.”

Mr Jenkins says it is correct that the planned introduction of a jet trainer into service during the 1970 s will require jet flying training activities to he at a base other than Wigram. However Wigram will remain the major technical and ground training base for the R.N.Z.A.F. and some flying training will be done there.

[camtech]

Some thoughts around the Bristol Freighter replacement choices. I struggled to find 19 types that would come even close to the Freighter role
Andover -had completed it's production run.
HS748MF military freighter
Argossy - similarly out of production
Caribou
Buffalo
Transall C160
Grumman C2 Greyhound

A few out of production - Nord Noratlas, C-123 Provider

Anyone add or subtract to/from the list.

[Dave Homewood]

It would be really interesting to see their full list. I wonder if they were also considering second hand types? Or just new.

[Dave Homewood]

The Press, 29 June 1971

Harvards may have gone by 1978

It appears highly likely that from 1978 the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Wigram will be a much quieter place than it has been for the last 30 years.

It is from that year that the familiar Harvard training aircraft should finally disappear from the skies over Christchurch, probably to be replaced by a jet trainer — which would mean a switch of all pilot training to Ohakea.

In Christchurch yesterday the retiring Chief of Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal W. H. Stratton) said he thought that the Air Force could keep the Harvard until about 1978 which, if this was the case, meant that its replacement  must be ordered by 1976. When asked what the Air Force had in mind to replace the 18 Harvards used at Wigram for pilot training, Air Marshal Stratton said it would need 13 aircraft. He personally would like to see the service obtain more British Strikemasters but these would probably be out of production by 1974.

“It is more than likely that the piston-engined Harvard, which has given magnificent service to the Air Force, will be replaced by a jet trainer,” said the Air Marshal.

If this happened then the whole of pilot and aircrew training would move to Ohakea; all that would be left at Wigram would be the small Air Tourers, by then possibly numbering six, the Bell Sioux helicopters, and the two Iroquois which were based at Wigram for civil emergencies.

However, Air Marshal Stratton saw no drop in the population of Wigram, as by about 1978, in view of the possible move of aircrew training to Ohakea, the Air Force was likely to consolidate all its ground training at Wigram.

The purchase and delivery of the Skyhawks to replace the Canberras, and the order placed for the Strikemasters to replace the Vampires, were among the high points the Air Marshal recalled during his period of office. The needs he saw for the Air Force at present were to improve welfare and servicemen’s clubs, and to arrest the fall in base maintenance work at most Air Force bases in the Dominion due to cuts in Government spending.

The Air Force employed highly skilled men and women; and to hold them the service had to offer social and welfare opportunities comparable with those available outside, he said. Air Marshal Stratton paid his farewell visit to Wigram yesterday; he will leave the service on July 29.