www.harvards.com

 

 

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, August 19 at 1930 hours

Guest Speaker: Charley Fox will share information on James Francis “Stocky” Edwards, a Canadian fighter pilot during WWII who was Canada’s highest flying ace in the Western Desert Campaign.

 

-At a ceremony in Ottawa on June 9, 2008, Chief of the Air Staff Lieutenant- General Angus Watt pinned the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) medal on Charley to recognize 12 years of service to the Queen. In his remarks to the collected audience and press, LGen Watt said, “Awarding a CD used to be thought of as routine. This event is anything but routine. Thank you, Charley, on behalf of Canada’s Air Force. Thank you for what you did in wartime and for how you are reinvesting your experience in today’s Air Force.”

-Ontario author Steve Pitt has just published a book, Day of the Flying Fox The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox. Books will be for sale at the next members’ monthly meeting and at the upcoming flydays. Spitfire Emporium will be looking after the sale of the books with all proceeds going to CHAA.

 

AIR DISPLAY:

-Aug 8 - 10 – Thunder Over Michigan (backseats full)

-Aug 23 – Members Flyday including a Memorial Flypast (see below)

-Aug 31 – Port Rowan 3 a/c

-Sept 6 – Parry Sound

-Sept 20 -- Members Flyday: Wings & Wheels Family Fun Day (see below)

-Sept 20 – Milverton 4 a/c

 

Contact Torben Haarbye at 519-679-1733 if you are able to volunteer one evening every few weeks. We continue to struggle to have enough people to support this necessary and profitable CHAA Fundraiser. If you are able to help at the Bingos, show your CHAA support ---- call Torben and volunteer.

Mark the upcoming Bingo dates on your calendar:

-June 29

-July 25

-Aug 28

-Sept 21

-Oct 18

-Nov 19

-Dec 7

-Jan 24

-Feb 3

-Mar 20

 

Great opportunity to get a backseat ride...what a thrill!

Use up that gift certificate you were given for your birthday or Christmas.

There will be a BBQ lunch available each day. Bring your appetite!

-Sat Aug 23 --- Members Flyday --- Memorial Flypast

-Sat Sept 20 --- Members Flyday --- Wings & Wheels Family Fun Day

 

MEMBERS MONTHLY MEETINGs: at 1930 hrs. Hope to see you there.

-Tues Aug 19

-Tues Sept 16

 

Have you lost a loved one? Would you like to remember and honor them in a very special way? We are providing you with the opportunity to do so. During the Members Flyday on Saturday, August 23, there will be a Memorial Flypast beginning at 10:30am --- event includes a bagpiper, singing of O Canada, the reading of the names and the flypast including the missing man formation. This flypast is dedicated to honoring the memory of those we have lost -- CHAA members and their loved ones. There is still time if you wish your loved one’s name to be included in the program, as the deadline for submissions is Wednesday August 20. Contact Sandra at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-634-8360.

 

The last scheduled flyday of the season will be a Wings & Wheels Family Fun Day! The day includes a BBQ, a flyin, Harvard backseat rides, Tiger Moth and Harvard static displays, classic vehicles, music, games, Stores sales, tours, demonstrations, fundraising events and more. Plan to be part of the fun! If you are interested in assisting with this event, have a classic car/truck/motorcycle you’d like to display or items to donate to the silent auction, contact Sandra at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-634-8360. See you there.

 

Our Electrical Training Panel was originally made at The Canadian Car and Foundry in Fort William (Thunder Bay) in 1942 and was donated to CHAA in 2006. This system was originally used as a training tool for the Maintenance Crews on the 1941/42 Mk 2A Harvard to assist in understanding the working operation and wiring of the 12 volt electrical system in the aircraft. Over several months in 2007, three CHAA members (Ron Wilton, Keith Rice and Al Speirs) took on the project of restoring the panel to an operational display. After 60 man hours of cleaning contacts, tracing wiring, replacing or repairing parts the board was brought back to working order. The system runs off a 12 volt battery, and the external starting system is operational as well.

It includes such features as: instrument panel lights, engine panel lights, navigational lights, landing lights, fuel gauge lights, fuel pressure lights, cockpit lights, landing gear lights, upper and lower beacon lights with Morse code capabilities, stall horn, tail light, and the starter motor turning over to engage the spark. Wiring for guns, rockets, bombs, gun camera and many other items are on the display, although, currently not wired into the system.

During the Members Flydays (August 23 and September 20) Al Speirs will be at the hangar providing demonstrations on this electrical training panel.

 

CHAA is in the process of gathering ideas for the next Trillium Grant Application, the deadline for which is November 1, 2008. All CHAA members are asked to submit their ideas: wish lists, new programs they’d like to see implemented and/or previous ones they’d like to see promoted for an up -coming project. Any and all suggestions are encouraged and should be sent to me by mid-September. Also if anyone is interested and available to work on the application process, please contact me with this info as well. Together we can accomplish so much and keep Canadian aviation history alive.

 

Wow! What great months June and July were for membership - 60 new members and many had a ride in a Harvard. Welcome to all. Special thanks to our pilots and other members who took time out of their busy schedules to be at the Guelph and Oshawa Airports.

On Sunday, July 6 approximately 15 members of the British Aviation Enthusiasts Society (BAES) arrived mid morning to tour the facility and 9 of the members had rides. The BAES group is from the British Isles and Europe. Members who had flights were from England, Scotland and France. They have been visiting airports and air museums across Canada, starting June 10 in Vancouver and concluded their 6-week tour in Halifax around July 15. Greg Burnard greeted the members and gave them a short history of CHAA before taking to the skies on a most gorgeous sunny day. Three three-plane formation flights were up. Many of the members had never flown in a formation flight before and were greatly enthused to have had this opportunity in vintage aircraft. Special thanks to Greg Burnard, Tony Donnelly and Johnny Curran for giving of their time for the enjoyment of our visitors. We have heard from several of the members and they thanked CHAA for their hospitality and the pleasure they received from touring and having rides.
To all those holding gift certificates - August 23 and September 20 are FLY DAYS in Tillsonburg when you may use your gift certificate. As we are past the half way mark of the season these dates will be excellent opportunities to have your flight.

 

It’s never too early to start thinking about gifts for Christmas. Pick up items for those aviation buffs on your list. Of course, buying CHAA merchandise for yourself is also a very good plan!

Stores at the Hangar: All our merchandise is available for purchase at the hangar on Meeting nights, most Tuesdays & Saturdays, as well as at special events. Please contact Ron Jay, Bruce Tapp or Wayne.

Stores on our Website: Several merchandise items are available online (on our Home page, just under the images at the top of the page, click on Stores) Pages are easy to navigate and details have been added for various merchandise options as well as for renewing membership and making donations.

A selection of CHAA merchandise is also available at: Grampa’s Attic in Ingersoll at 149 Thames Street: owned by CHAA member Tom Smith and at the Spitfire Emporium at 666 Victoria St N in Kitchener owned by CHAA member Ray Whittemore.

In spite of the rain, a great effort by our members made the Stores sales a great success at Geneseo airshow. Thanks to: Pat and Ruth Hanna, Kevin and Chris Frank, Walt and Maureen Irie, Marie and Callum Donnelly, Terry Scott, Ray Whittemore and Sandra Sparkes.

 

A University of Waterloo Aviation Club has been formed by CHAA member and U of W student Heather MacMillan (Science and Aviation major) and this enthusiastic group is planning aviation related events and training sessions. For more details and how to join Wings Over Waterloo, contact Heather at above address.

 

June 2008 edition of EAA Warbirds of America: includes an Eric Dumigan photo of Tony Donnelly flying RWN over Tillsonburg.

July/August 2008 edition of Warbird International: CHAA member Gord McNulty has an article published (“Harvard Arrival” -- complete with photos).

August 2008 edition of Flypast: CHAA pilot Tony Donnelly has an article published ( Canadian Harvard Goes Home --complete with photo by Pat Hanna)

 

On Eric’s website www.airic.ca he has posted shots: 2008 Airshows Images. (Of particular interest to us will be: Canadian Aviation Expo, Red Bull Detroit Airshow (shots of Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team) and Geneseo Airshow). Eric’s photos always tell a story all their own and we appreciate his sharing these “stories” so freely with us.

 

More news: In June, Kent Beckham flew the Mk XVI Spitfire belonging to Vintage Wings, which he describes as a great privilege. During this flight he was caught on film by photographer Peter Lubig --- www.planepictures.ca and appeared on their calendar for July 2008. Now, in addition to all his other accomplishments, Kent can add he is a calendar boy --- congrats, Kent! Great shot!

 

As always, our thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, recently been ill or had surgery. Please know, we hold you in our hearts and wish you better days ahead.

 

Ideas/Suggestions/Questions: If you have ideas, suggestions or questions for any area of CHAA please bring them forward. Your input is always appreciated. Send all to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and they will be directed as necessary. This is your association; it is as strong as the membership creates it to be --- together.

 

Volunteer help is needed: many areas of CHAA are in need of Volunteer assistance. If you have some extra time and an interest, contact Sandra at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-634-8360 today. Together we can continue to fulfill our mandate and have fun preserving Canadian aviation history.

 

Visit the CHAA website: www.harvards.com

 

Until next time, clear skies, safe flights and smooth landings!

Sandra Sparkes, CHAA Member