North American Harvard NZ1044 is one of 202 Harvards ordered by the RNZAF as an advanced pilot trainer, arriving in NZ in June 1943 and operated by No 2 Fighter Operational Training Unit (FOTU) at Ohakea during World War 2.
On 4 April 1945 it suffered minor damage after a gear leg collapsed as the aircraft taxied off the runway due to the undercarriage down lock not being properly in place. It only needed a replacement aileron and wing tip before returning to service.
It was put into storage after the war until the early 1950’s, at which time it was the first of the RNZAF Harvards to be put through an upgrade program. It flew again in 1954 with No.3 Territorial Air Force (TAF) at Wigram until 1958, when it was once more placed into long term storage.
In 1972 it was sold to the National Airways Corporation (NAC) for $250 and was used as an instructional airframe for the technical training school in Christchurch. The aircraft was finally sold and the aircraft remained in Canterbury.
In March 2020, Bevan Dewes purchased the aircraft and had it transported to Wanaka where Callum Smith’s maintenance & restoration company Twenty24 Ltd is based. Over the next 2.5 years they ran a full systems & components overhaul and restoration, which Bevan has been heavily involved in. The aeroplane repaint was completed by Heli Support. NZ1044 aircraft has been painted in the colours it wore during its time with No.2 FOTU at Ohakea during World War 2.
The aircraft is expected to fly in the first quarter of 2023, and with a bit of luck we’ll see it at Classic Fighters, where it will make another welcome addition to the ever-growing flying display, and we cannot wait to see it with its proud owner!
About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.
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One of the rarest vintage jet aircraft to be seen flying worldwide is the De Havilland Venom. The Venom was a development of the De Havilland Vampire. It was fitted with a larger engine and thinner wing than the Vampire, although some of its wooden construction remained.
When the Venom entered service, it was an aircraft that excited its pilots. The leap in performance was substantial, and it was a manoeuvrable fighter bomber with one of the most impressive climb rates at the time.RNZAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Stuart McIntyre described the type as 'Vampires with a hairy chest'.
The Venom's service life was relatively short due to the rapid developments in jet fighter technology in the 1950s. It had its first flight in 1949 and was retired from the RAF in 1962 but flew in Switzerland until 1983! The type was sold to several other nations worldwide, including Italy, Sweden, Iraq, and New Zealand. The RNZAF purchased sixteen Venoms and allocated them to 14 Squadron, and these aircraft flew 115 combat missions in Malaya.
As mentioned, the Swiss utilised the aircraft in 1983, when the opportunity to buy and operate a Venom was made possible for a wider group. Many were purchased and flown, but over time, maintaining a high-performance jet like the Venom could be expensive; more importantly, keeping up with the high fuel bill took its toll, with some heading off to museums.
The example you will see at Classic Fighters is an ex-Swiss machine purchased by John Luff and imported into New Zealand in 2012. It was in excellent condition, so little restoration work was required; John has painted it in the 14 Sqn colour scheme as a tribute to those who flew and maintained them.
So, make sure to come along and see it. This machine is so rare and goes like a rocket!
About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.