This aircraft is known by many names depending on what country used them and/or the
variant of the same airframe. They were AT-6, Harvards, Yale, Texan, SNJ, Wirraway
and a few others. These planes were fully aerobatic and could present the student pilot
with some situations where he learned to do things correctly or else. These planes were
the stepping stones to the more advanced Spitfires and Mustangs of this era. From the
1930s to the 1960s the Harvard was not limited to just the training role. It was also used
as a combat aircraft and became part of almost every major power inventory. Like the
Huey helicopter the Harvard had its own distinctive sound caused by the propeller tips
going supersonic.

NZ1050 was shipped to New Zealand in July 1943 and was assembled at RNZAF Station
Hobsonville. It served with No.2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit, at RNZAF Ohakea
and became the 25th Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* standards. Next it spent time at
RNZAF Base Wigram as a trainer and eventually was stored in 1972. On the 20th of
February 1973 the aircraft was converted to become instructional airframe INST207. The
Air Force veterans raised funds and rescued the aircraft; painted it overall yellow training
colors and mounted it as gate guard at former RNZAF Base Wigram that is now the
RNZAF Museum. It received another yellow paint scheme with black 21 on it and a blue
band. So instead of a new coat of wartime yellow paint, the Harvard was repainted in the
familiar postwar Dove Grey and International Orange scheme that had graced Wigram's
skies since the 1960's. NZ1050 would receive one last paint job. Instead of a new coat of
wartime yellow it was repainted in the familiar postwar Dove Grey and International
Orange scheme that had been so familiar over Wigram's since the 1960's. The aircraft
made one more move, from the left side of the entrance to the museum to the right side
and this made it more prominent.

SPECIFICATIONS (HARVARD MK II)

PERFORMANCE
Powerplant- Supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 radial piston engine,
600 hp @ 2250 rpm
Maximum Speed - 156 knots
Initial Climb Rate – 1,359 ft/minute
Range - 740 miles
Endurance - 8 hours
Service Ceiling – 22,000 ft
Fuel Consumption - 30 gallons/ hr @ 10,000 ft

WEIGHT
Empty - 3,995 lbs
Maximum take-off – 5,750 lbs

DIMENSIONS
Length – 8ft 11in
Wing Span - 42ft
Height - 9ft 9in

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