South African Air Force Harvard

We take a trip down memory lane, to a time when the SANDF was a little more than 1 year old, as the SAAF bade farewell to the Harvard in 1995 after 55 years of faithful service to the world second oldest Air Force. This much loved aircraft was the beginning of the flying dream for so many around the world.

[@shaunmaree6493]

When i was a kid in the 70 s i used to see these flying quite often over Port Elizabeth.

[@AndreZA979]

Was at Dunottar for the 50th anniversary, fond memories.

[@thelmawinterbach8692]

On 31st May 1966 a formation of 72 Harvards participated in a flypast at the Voortrekker monument commemorating the 5th anniversary of the republic of South Africa. The formation was led by Cmdt Piet Letley.

[@mikestokes4903]

As a young boy growing up in South Africa, I will always remember the Harvard"s doing their training session on a clear Saturday afternoon. Where we stayed in Durban south you could observe their expert flying. I am sure there are some that can recall the Saturday that the Harvard was doing blind flying to teach the pilot the skill and experience of night flying. A Dakota was on route to Louis Botha airport with a passenger. The Pilot misjudged his distance form the Dekota and clipt it one wing, The Harvard was badly damaged. The two pilots parachuted out and safely landed in Edwanswales drive on the Bluff. The Harvard crashed in the field where the Bluff shopping Mall is now. The old people playing bowls saw the plane coming down and ran for cover. The Dekota with 58 people landed at Louis Botha airport with little damage and no causalties. On Sunday we made a trip to the crash site. There was little left of the Harvard which was strewn over an area. This is my Memory of the incident in the 50"s

[@wesselvanwyk1335]

I grew up on the Highveld between Kriel and Kinross and will never forget seeing and hearing the harvards while training new pilots in the clear skies of the Highveld - especially in winter. One of my favorites was when they fly nearly vertical upwards into the sky up to a point where the engine stolls and then coming tumbling down in a spiral towards earth and you hear the engine starts again and finds it way again to normal flying. I can still hear the sound of the harvards while doing this maneuver. I am full of goosebumps now - 50 years later!! What an experience!!

[@wingnutzster]

As a young boy my dad bought me a flight in 7643 ZU-AOL at Springs Harvard club and a signed painting and T-shirt - I’ll never forget it and in essence like it was for so many before me the Harvard was my introduction to real flying

[@ivanerasmus451]

Bravo!!!

[@mindsharping]

One rarely observed feature of the Harvard is of course the engine sound which closely resembles music by Carl Orff.

[@mikezinn7212]

Infuriating, isn't it!!

[@johnpowell1952]

We miss the Harvard sounds in Nigel next to Ex Dunnottar Central Flying school John Powell

[@DS-sg1vv]

Sheesh, that's not the sound I remember - EEEK!

[@wingnutzster]

“....and touch the face of God” now I’m as big a fan of the Harvard as any South African aviation nut but if anything the ‘Spam Can’ was a stepping stone to an aircraft that might do just that - something quieter and less oily perhaps, something less irreverent 🤣

[@jonathanprince2667]

To the top? You mean down

[@vivatrev]

Sadly all Harvard video's are accompanied by insane music and poor voice overs. The only music is the engine singing!

[@DS-sg1vv]

Would love to have been able to hear the Harvards again - rather than being drowned out by a cliched Old Spice 'O Fortuna' soundtrack 👎👎