With the acquisition of another cockpit, the history of NZ906 (New Zealand's oldest surviving Harvard) is explored, as well as a pilot that flew it - L A Rayner.
Thanks for posting this video. It’s quite timely. I am researching a former pilot of ‘906, who was a flight instructor at Woodbourne and Wigram. If you are interested, please get in touch. I’m in Christchurch.
Not sure you can say she is surviving at present needs so much work to return her to her past glory. But one can hope in time she will get back to her glorious flying status.
Thanks for the comment. As mentioned in previous videos, I have no intention to restore this to airworthy status - very few components could be used due to corrosion and damage. The intention is to restore the cockpit so it can be used as a flight simulator. In a sense, this will restore it to "flight" status where people can enjoy it again. The two cockpits I have are recorded as "survivors" on a published list of surviving New Zealand Harvards - hence the reference it this aircraft as a "survivor". 👍
Ah,the picture of the dead Harvards at TeKuiti is from when I was school kid and i think I was about 9 years old. Bennet's were responsible for building the Airtruck prototypes ,from Harvard parts and specialty parts made right next to where the planes were stacked. Mostly locals were employed building them and I still remember the day when the towns population turned out to see it take off and fly. I have some pics of it smashed up... 😕😕
Thanks for sharing the memories. Must have been amazing for the town to see the Airtruck fly for the first time. Do you have any photos of the Harvards in Bennett's yard?
Thanks for posting this video. It’s quite timely. I am researching a former pilot of ‘906, who was a flight instructor at Woodbourne and Wigram. If you are interested, please get in touch. I’m in Christchurch.
Awesome Gerard. Give me a call sometime at Aviation Adventures Ltd.
Not sure you can say she is surviving at present needs so much work to return her to her past glory. But one can hope in time she will get back to her glorious flying status.
Thanks for the comment. As mentioned in previous videos, I have no intention to restore this to airworthy status - very few components could be used due to corrosion and damage. The intention is to restore the cockpit so it can be used as a flight simulator. In a sense, this will restore it to "flight" status where people can enjoy it again. The two cockpits I have are recorded as "survivors" on a published list of surviving New Zealand Harvards - hence the reference it this aircraft as a "survivor". 👍
Ah,the picture of the dead Harvards at TeKuiti is from when I was school kid and i think I was about 9 years old. Bennet's were responsible for building the Airtruck prototypes ,from Harvard parts and specialty parts made right next to where the planes were stacked. Mostly locals were employed building them and I still remember the day when the towns population turned out to see it take off and fly. I have some pics of it smashed up... 😕😕
Thanks for sharing the memories. Must have been amazing for the town to see the Airtruck fly for the first time. Do you have any photos of the Harvards in Bennett's yard?