CoffmanStarter

Worth a post ...

It would seem our BBMF Pilots will get hands-on next weekend with PH-TBR ... Lucky chaps !

The North American AT-16-ND Harvard IIB c/n 14A-808 PH-TBR is decked out in the historic Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) livery and its original air force registration B-182. The Harvard is owned by the Dutch Military Aviation Museum and operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight Foundation. It 'was built by the Noorduyn Aviation Company in Canada in 1943 and served with the Canadian air force before taken over by the Dutch air force in 1949.

A bit more of a tail wheel handful than the Chipmunk ...



BBMFPRO ... Would be great if you could add a bit more ... I assume this is part of the training routine for those pilots that have never flown tail wheel before ?

Coff.

Courtney Mil

I would love to see it flying.

BOAC

In my time the path was Chipmunk-Harvard-Hurricane

CoffmanStarter

Thanks BOAC ... would that have been the Harvard based at Duxford in your time ? Good to see collaboration with Dutch counterparts. Shame we don't have our own Harvard

BEagle

Has Harvard KF183 finally retired from photo work at Boscombe Down now? At one time, it was the world's oldest military aeroplane still in service.

longer ron

183 is still based at Boscombe Beagle,she mostly flies for the Test pilot school these days.
She is on a service at the mo...hopefully rasping around the skies again within a few weeks

BOAC

Boscombe, Coff.

BEagle

Glad to hear that! I remember seeing a Harvard flying over the old A303 somewhere near Amesbury or Andover when we were on our way to a family holiday some years before I applied to join the RAF. Almost exactly 50 years later, after I'd retired, I was driving along the 'new' A303 and saw perhaps the very same aircraft!

They certainly built them to last!

longer ron

They certainly did...she is a beaut

Stitchbitch

Looking forward to her getting airborne again soon. As BOAC said, route for new blighter pilots is still the same. Chippy, Harvard, Hurricane..

CoffmanStarter

LR ... Possibly a moot point ... but is KF183 owned by QinetiQ although she is on the UK Mil Register ?

Another original Noorduyn build I believe ...

Cheers ...

Coff.

Wander00

1988 or 89, a flight in the BD Harvard was an essential part of a Command Accounts inspection trip largely carried out by air, having done Bedford and Farnborough earlier in the wee, travelling in the "Raspberry Ripple" - happy days.

pontifex

When on B Sqn at BD one of my ancilliary jobs was to train any "Kerosine Kids" going on to BBMF to land the Harvard. Started them in the front seat and then moved them onto the rear one. I know from experience that that is trickier that a Hurricane. After a season on the Hurri they would move onto the baby Spit and, subsequently, onto the Mk19. I was lucky enough to train on the Harvard, fly it extensively at BD and then fly with the Harvard Formtion Team as a civvy. Over 500 hrs.

CoffmanStarter

Hi Pontifex ... you lucky chap

Would that be Mr Numan's Team ?

It's good to see/hear the Shoreham example flying around our neck of the woods during the summer

Best ...

Coff.

longer ron

Coff
I believe that 183 is owned by QQ apparently !But am not privy to all the financial details regarding the change from MOD to QQ
She is indeed a Noorduyn built a/c and is a pleasure to fly (had a lovely 60mins in her a few years ago ) she was out on engine runs today but I believe it will be a little while yet before she graces the skies again !

rgds LR

CoffmanStarter

Thanks Ron very much appreciated

pontifex

Hi Coff,

Yes it was. Despite all the silly stories he is a bloody good pilot and very safety conscious. I was lucky enough to have a Zeke as my steed towards the end (thats when I became a full time airline chap and couldn't get the weekends off) The Zeke is one of the Harvards modified to look like Zeros for "Tora Tora Tora". Unlike the Harvard it has a geared 3 bladed prop. Same engine though. Unlike the Harvard, it could absorb the power and could do low level aeros all day without having to pause and climb back up again. Gary N, as you may remember had his harvard to look like a Zero. We would do a proper 2 ship lolevel number with me as his wingman. You have to trust your leader to do that. And I did. If I could work out how to include photos here I would show some. Sorreeeee.

CoffmanStarter

Pontifex old chap ... Marvellous ... Can I help post your pics ? I'll drop you a PM.

Coff.

RetiredBA/BY

OK guys, don't dream. Anyone interested in forming a Harvard (or Chipmunk) group in West London ? I was interested in buying share in a beautifully restored Harvard, (in US Navy colours, based Shoreham) owned and operated by a couple of BA 320 captains, but since sold to the Boultbee Academy at Oxford.

The aim would be to have a beautiful example in RAF markings, maintained and operated to the best RAF CFS standards. PM me if seriously interested. My Luscombe Silvaire is long gone so, as the years are flying by (sorry, no pun intended) it's now or never for me !!

CoffmanStarter

Pontifex ...

Really great to hook up with you ... many thanks for sharing your wounderful Harvard pics when you were flying with Mr Numan's Team

Very happy to host/post some of your pics to help you get started ... I'm sure there would be much interest with your Hercules tanking and the "aggressive" Nimrod

I'll leave you to add comment next time you are on the forum ...











Just love the historic Trainers 5 Ship image

Best regards ...

Coff.