SAAF Harvard in USA

[Skaz]

This is a question for the old SAAF guys like Oom Guns & his budds.

I'm in the US of A at present and today, while I was preflighting an aircraft out on the apron in the bitter (deksels ma' dis koud hier!) cold, I hear a sound that both confused me and warmed my heart.

The unmistakeable throb of a Harvard in full flight. And 'struesbob, there she was , doing circuits Runway 34 R at Manassas, VA , still in SAAF colours, number 7697 on the side.

Does anybody know how this bird came to be here and who the owner is?

I'll try to find out from this end, if anybody's interested.

[francois marais]

Skaz, good to hear you're still alive and well. Send some news to me at [email protected]

When the Harvards were decommissioned from the SAAF, they were put out on bid. Apart from the few (I think 10) that the Harvard Club of SA retained, some were sold to private buyers in SA, and some were sold to buyers all over the world.

During November of 1993, the SAAF at Langebaan Weg packed 7 Harvards in containers for shipment to Chilé for an Airshow. After the airshow, all 7 went to the USA. I've got stacks of pictures of these dismantled T6's lying on the hangar floor at Langebaan Weg ready to be containerized, but I don't know how to post the pictures here. I will check if GUNZZ can help, and I will also check on the number for you.

Next time you see it, do a close up inspection of the machine, as somewhere on the the fuselage, should be its N registration in small letters. If you can get the N registration, then we can tell you who owns it. Maybe you can even organise yourself a ride in it as a fellow South African.

Love to the wifey and mail some news. Best regards!

[Skaz]

Dagse,

Thanks for the gen, Next time I see it I'll be sure to give it a close inspection. Maybe when I'm done flying today I'll go over to the GA Apron and see if I can find it .

Hold thumbs boet, cause for tomorrow I toets for the Amerikaanse ATP !

[The Claw]

7697 was sold as N7697M on 17/09/96.

No idea who the current owner is !?

[REAL ORCA]

I have checked the old logbooks. Flew it last on the 7th of Feb 1978 with Willie van Coppenhagen (Rip) as a Pupe at Dunnottar. Brings back good memories! Very suprised to see it still flies after all my landings.

[Skaz]

Ha, it did look a bit wobbly, but maybe that wasnt because of your landings!

[Gunship]

Sorry for missing this thread ... seeing that my naam get's used skaamteloos on 2 ocassions.

Just had a look at my logbook and I flew her the first time on my SOLO flight.

God Bless her .. I moered her into the ground that day.

She still flew in 85 and I see such names as my students : Pieter vd Zwaard & Chris Griffiths.

I see Maurice (Fok) Odendal (hallo tjom) also tested me on it for my Instructors rating.

I seemed to remember she was one of the aircraft loved by all to do tests in. She flew quite S & L and her trimmers was great.

Sad to hear that she roams the skies of the US of A but as long as they take good care of her.

PS: FoxMike I will send you details how to post a pic

Enjoy the J & B Met boet - saw Joanne Strauss there in blue - bliksem maar sy is mooi ...

Skaz- hope you got you liksens bru

[Skaz]

Skuus Oom Guns, it was used with much reverence and respect. Thanks for the hoping, cause it worked !
After 2.4 hours of sweating blood and swearing (under my breath) I got the 'congratulations, I'll see you inside'
yeeha! hoogtyd ook.

On the way out I drove over to where 7697 was hangared, just to see her taxiing out with 2 occupants. Too far away to snap a digital photo.

My instructor gave me some gen as to who to go see re the owner etc. so will report back when I have some info.

Also saw an L39 flying in the circuit. Same paintscheme as the one that was down in Port Elizabeth some years ago.
An olive drab Huey was thumping its way around the hangars when I left, will go check her out as well soon.

Hey, Yster check you epos.

[Gunship]

Hey great news SKAZ !!

Well done man

Please try and get a nice high quality pic of it,

Vroulief says she still has a photo of the great lady when I went solo (uhmm an odd few years ago) :o

Vivaaa your liksens

[rooibok]

Last flew 7697 on 14 September 1995 on close formation test - straightest Harvard I have ever flown!

[Gunship]

Thanks Rooibok.

That confirms what I had in mind about the grand old lady ...

It is like Puma 185 and 187 .. they where just somethinh special.

Well not made on a Monday or Friday anyway

Vivaa 7697 - if it could just speak ...

[Gunship]

Harvard T6G

For those that really do not know what we are talking about ..

Harvard T6G or also known as (effectunately)? spell ? a "Spam Can" or Spammie.

This great photo from Louis Vosloo's Airpics web site (www.airpic.co.za) - a worthwhile visit

[Gunship]

From Louis Vosloo's Airpic

Just had to add ONE more ...

[Skaz]

Those pics are gorgeous, verrry niice

I came up a dead end with the FAA re the N7697M, that N-number was assigned to a Cessna 175 that was destroyed in, 1991 methinks.

But, got 5 possibles, 2 very good leads, since the owners live within 30 minutes or so driving distance of where this bird is hangared.

Going down there again this coming week, will see what I can find out.

[Cpt. Underpants]

Here are two more:

Ex SAAF 7658 now C-FXSA living in Victoria, British Columbia and Ex SAAF 7246 now reincarnated as N246Z living in Houston, TX.

[Gunship]

That will be great Skaz

Cpt Underpants I seemed to remember 7246 very well but 7658 does not immediately ring a bell.

You still in Singapore ?

[Gunship]

Harvard 7658

Ex SAAF 7658 now C-FXSA living in Victoria, British Columbia and owned and flown by a SAFFER Great to hear that

She is a beautyyyyyy

[Skaz]

Hey Oom Guns, maybe you know this crate.

Anybody guess where this is?

[Gunship]

Lo Skaz,

Yo - nice machine - wherever it is and in whatever config.
If I remember correctly we always had the ferry tanks on the outside.

I pressume this is in zimBOBwe or maybe a remaining 24 from the Ivory Coast but I will go for Zim that they stacked the pylons wrongly

Lekker dag

Oom Gunzz

[Skaz]

no, this one was sitting on Rundu airstrip a year or so ago, still had rockets in the pods.