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80th Anniversary of the Harvard in Canada
Celebrated by CHAA

Report and photos by Gord McNulty, CAHS Vice President

CHAA Harvard Bessy CF UFZ taxis out with other Harvards on the flight line July 20 2019

CHAA Harvard Mk 4 Bessy, CF-UFZ,  taxis out with other Harvards on the flight line, July 20, 2019.

On July 20, 1939, the RCAF accepted its first Harvard trainer, RCAF 1321. The aircraft was flown up the Pacific Coast from the North American Aviation plant in Inglewood, California, to RCAF Station Sea Island (now Vancouver International Airport). 

It was fitting that on July 20, 2019, the all-volunteer Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association marked the 80th anniversary of the classic “Yellow Peril” in Canada with a fly day and open house at its Tillsonburg, ON, Regional Airport base.

CHAA pilot Dave Martin arrives in beautifully restored Harvard Mk 2 C FMTA owned by Alf Beam of Fort Erie

CHAA pilot Dave Martin arrives in beautifully restored
Harvard Mk 2 C-FMTA owned by Alf Beam of Fort Erie.

Sunny skies prevailed, though unfortunately a very low ceiling in the morning prevented many aircraft from flying in. Nonetheless, the CHAA enjoyed a productive day as no fewer than 18 back seat rides were provided after the sky cleared.

CHAA volunteers remove the engine from a Harvard Mk 4 during the 80th Anniversary celebration

 CHAA volunteers remove the engine from a Harvard Mk 4
during the 80th Anniversary celebration.

Attendees appreciated an unusual opportunity to see a Pratt and Whitney R-1340 Wasp engine removed from Harvard Mk 4, 20422/C-FRZW, by volunteers under the supervision of Shane Clayton, the CHAA’s tireless Chief of Technical Operations. The engine was placed in an RCAF container and will eventually be sent to an overhaul facility.

Bjarni Trygvasson CHAA President with David New in the back seat taxis out for a flight

Bjarni Trygvasson, CHAA President, with David New in the back seat, taxis out for a flight.

CHAA President Bjarni Tryggvason, retired Canadian Space Agency astronaut, took Hamilton author David New for a ride in a Harvard Mk 2, AJ583/C-FHWX. David, who has presented his book An Ordinary Hero about Second World War Spitfire pilot Dave Goldberg to the Toronto Chapter of the CAHS, thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Harvard Mk 2 C FRWN taxis out during the 80th Annniversary of the Harvard

Harvard Mk 2 C-FRWN taxis out during the
80th Annniversary of the Harvard.

CHAA pilot Dave Martin flew an impressively restored Harvard Mk 2, 2591/C-FMTA, owned by Alf Beam of Fort Erie, to the fly day. Displays about the remarkable history of the Harvard added to the occasion.

Flypast August 2019

The CHAA is the subject of a six-page cover article, with many outstanding images, in the August issue of Britain’s FlyPast magazine. The same issue includes an article on the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, ON. Unfortunately, as the result of a photo editing error, the images in the CWHM feature are from the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC. It remains, however, an issue that aviation fans should check out.

The CHAA, in addition to its busy summer schedule of flight operations, is working hard to restore two Harvards to airworthy status.

Intrepid photographers Gus and Clara Corujo covered the 80th Anniversary at gusair

Intrepid photographers Gus and Clara Corujo covered the
80th Anniversary at www.gusair.com.