Aircraft [North American AT-6 Harvard II ]NZ944 / INST 153
Maker and role
North American Aviation Incorporated, Manufacturer
Production date
1941
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1964.248
Production period
Description
Fuselage with Perspex canopy. Painted yellow paint on the fuselage. Patches of red on fuselage and propeller. Double-bladed propeller painted black with yellow tips. Landing gear includes 3 wheels - 2 at the front and one at the back. There is a blue, white and red roundel on either side of the fuselage near the tail.
Brief History
The Harvard was the quintessential trainer and was used by all the Allied forces during World War Two. It was one of the standard trainers for the Empire Air Training Scheme, in which New Zealand participated and will be familiar to all those men who trained to be pilots during World War II (1939-45).
In the Harvard the trainee pilot sat in front of the instructor. Both the pilot and the pupil had a full range of flight and engine instruments and controls. It was a very good advanced trainer as it was rugged and reliable. Most aspects of flying could be demonstrated but it had ‘vices’ which stopped trainees from becoming too complacent.
In New Zealand Harvards served as primary, intermediate and advanced trainers for 36 years, going out of service in 1977. The RNZAF operated 202 Harvards.
This aircraft entered service in May 1941 and served at No.1 Flying Training School at Wigram and No.2 Service Flying Training School at Woodbourne. Post-War it became a ground instructional airframe at No. 1 Technical Training School at Hobsonville where it was used for airframe repair and painting trade training.
Date: 1941
Manufacturer: North American Aviation Inc., Inglewood, California
Type: Two-seat advanced trainer
Wing span: 12.9 m
Length: 8.8 m
Engine: One 550HP Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-I nine-cylinder radial engine
Armament: Normally nil, but could be fitted with one .303 machine gun in right wing for training purposes
Accommodation: Instructor and trainee in tandem, with dual controls
In the Harvard the trainee pilot sat in front of the instructor. Both the pilot and the pupil had a full range of flight and engine instruments and controls. It was a very good advanced trainer as it was rugged and reliable. Most aspects of flying could be demonstrated but it had ‘vices’ which stopped trainees from becoming too complacent.
In New Zealand Harvards served as primary, intermediate and advanced trainers for 36 years, going out of service in 1977. The RNZAF operated 202 Harvards.
This aircraft entered service in May 1941 and served at No.1 Flying Training School at Wigram and No.2 Service Flying Training School at Woodbourne. Post-War it became a ground instructional airframe at No. 1 Technical Training School at Hobsonville where it was used for airframe repair and painting trade training.
Date: 1941
Manufacturer: North American Aviation Inc., Inglewood, California
Type: Two-seat advanced trainer
Wing span: 12.9 m
Length: 8.8 m
Engine: One 550HP Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-I nine-cylinder radial engine
Armament: Normally nil, but could be fitted with one .303 machine gun in right wing for training purposes
Accommodation: Instructor and trainee in tandem, with dual controls
Marks
44 Painted
NZ944 Painted
NZ944 Painted
Credit Line
North American Aviation Incorporated. 1941. Aircraft [North American AT-6 Harvard II ]NZ944 / INST 153, 1964.248. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
![Instructions [North American Harvard]](https://collection.motat.nz/records/images/medium/3303/93b29afc31c16e388109fde77bc5a84c2d9cb748.jpg)
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