HARVARD HAPPENINGS

April 2006     

CHAA P.O. Box 175, Tillsonburg, Ontario N4G 4H5

-Saturday April 29, 1700hrs: CHAA’s Annual Banquet and Fundraiser

            Come celebrate with us as CHAA turns 21! 
WHERE: Woodstock Legion, 576 Brant St, Woodstock, ON
TICKETS: Ila Fallowfield ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or (519) 537-2257
GUEST SPEAKER: Lt. Col Dean Wright USAF Holloman AFB

entered the Air Force in 1987 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was an F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter pilot and chief of wing tactics, 9th Fighter Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M. From 1993-1995, Wright was a Royal Air Force exchange officer, flying the GR.7 Harrier with No. 1 Fighter Squadron, RAF Wittering, U.K. He has logged more than 2,400 hours in the A/OA-10, Hawk T1A, GR.7 Harrier, AT-38B, F-117A, T-38 and F-16C. In 1999, at the age of 33, Wright joined the US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, and in his first season with the team, flew the No. 6 jet as the opposing solo pilot.
FUNDRAISER DONATIONS: If coming to April 18^TH meeting, please bring your donation items with you. Any members WISHING TO DONATE ITEMS or to make cash donations to this fourth annual fundraiser, contact Sandra at

(519) 634-8360 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

As always, all monies raised from the evening will go to CHAA.

SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION: Eric Dumigan is producing a slide show presentation (using the shots sent on to him by CHAA members, as well as his own amazing photos); we are hoping to have copies of this slide show for sale. If you have photos for the show, email them to Eric today in jpeg format to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with note saying they are for the April 29 presentation.

IMPORTANT REMINDER for April 29:

This evening is about getting together as an organization to celebrate the uniqueness of CHAA, acknowledge the accomplishments and the ongoing work of our membership and to raise monies for CHAA. It is a time to laugh and relax together, renew old acquaintances and make some new ones, view the slide show, eat some great food, hear from and talk with an exciting speaker, celebrate award presentations, win a prize or two and bid for items of your choosing. If you’ve ever attended a CHAA annual banquet, you know it’s a casual but memorable evening. It’s meant to be anticipated and enjoyed. Much work has gone into making this a good overall evening; your participation and support is truly appreciated.

-MARKING AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF CHAA HISTORY: Pat Hanna

As I reviewed for you in the March ROAR, the spring of 1986 was
significant to CHAA.  HARVARD Mark II, CF-HWX was "taken-on-strength" in
April 1986 and "Mr. Harvard", Norm Beckham, was tasked to go to Ottawa and
pick up the Harvard from former owner, John Cowan.  Dave Timms, a future
President of CHAA, was assigned the backseat responsibilities and was also
privileged to fly a significant portion of the trip home with Norm doing the
map-reading. What a proud day that was for all of us waiting at Woodstock
when this blue and white "pylon racer" came into view and did the trademark
"Beckham Pass" before setting up for a perfect landing.  Now twenty years
later, CF-HWX soldiers on as a workhorse in our growing fleet, thanks to the
tireless energy of volunteers who have worked on her over the years.  The
blue and white paint and air racing history is long just a memory, and she
today proudly displays her true heritage as a memorial to the tens of
thousands of young people who learned to fly and fight in one of Canada's
proudest military feats.  The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was the
starting point for young men and women who went on to serve their country
with honour and became heroes...every one of them!  May CHAA and our
Harvards continue to fly in their honour long past our own lifetimes!

-NEXT CHAA MEETING: Tuesday April 18, 2006 1930hrs

Please note date and time as we return to Tuesday evening meetings and remember to bring along non-perishable item(s) for the local food bank.

GUEST SPEAKER:  Charley Fox, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar

If you input Charley Fox’s name into Google, the list that appears is staggering!  By the time many of us reach 86 we’ll be moving rather slowly; not so for our friend, Charley Fox.  As I type, he and his son Jim are on their way to Florida where Charley has been asked to speak to pilots at Tyndall Airforce Base. Upcoming in June, Charley will travel to England as part of a group organized by Ted Barris. Charley is the first to remind us he won’t be around forever; for this reason and so many more, we look forward to hearing of his latest adventures.

-HARVARD HAWKS: Saturday, May 13: Kip Davis This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Harvard Hawk program, proposed for the 12 to 17 year old age group, will run over four Saturdays in May and June leading to a flight in a Harvard.  The course will include Link trainer use, Theory of Flight and other interesting activities. For more information, contact Kip

-CHAA MEMBERS FLY DAYS: Roy Venn, CHAA President
At Tillsonburg Airport, each of the following dates from 0900-1600hrs:
May 20, June 17, July 22 and August 19

At Tillsonburg Airport from 1000-1600hrs:
September 9 & 10

-MONTHLY BINGOS: For info on how you can help with this important aspect of CHAA’s fundraising, contact Bill Shepard This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and for upcoming bingo dates visit the Dive Team site www.chaa-recovery.ca

-MEMBERSHIP NEWS: Marion Bennell This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

March 23: Welcome to our newest Harvard Hawk: Michele and Greg Burnard have signed up their newest family addition, James, on his one month birthday.

April 29: If you are to receive a 20-year pin, 10-year pin or a Life/Sponsor Members Plaque, don’t forget to get your tickets for the Annual Banquet.  We look forward to meeting many of these recipients.

The membership renewals are still coming in – if you didn’t receive a March ROAR, your name was removed from the mailing list as your renewal had not been received by the time the ROAR was mailed.

All members who have email are encouraged to receive their ROAR electronically.  You receive the ROAR with colored pictures at least one week before the ROARS are mailed and you are also saving CHAA dollars.  Last year over $1500.00 was spent on postage alone to mail the ROARS. This year the cost will be higher as postal rates have increased.  Help your association by getting your ROAR electronically.

-HAPPENINGS AT THE HANGAR: Roy Venn

April 4, 2006: It was a pleasure for the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association to welcome the London-St. Thomas Chapter of the Recreational Aircraft Association (RAA) to our facility for their April meeting. After a brief business meeting, under Angus MacKenzie's guidance and a history lesson from Bob Hewitt on the birth and development of CHAA, the twenty or so guests were split into three groups for a tour of the facilities. CHAA members were available to explain the various ongoing projects, the history of the aircraft and to answer any questions. The LINK trainer attracted quite a bit of attention; even though everyone had heard of the LINK only a few had had the opportunity to actually "fly" a working model. We certainly hope the RAA will come and visit us again and we extend an open invitation to any group to hold their meeting at our facility and take the TOUR. It was a great night - thanks RAA

-CHAA DIVE RECOVERY TEAM: Walt Irie www.chaa-recovery.ca

Check out the updates to our site: pictures from Shipwrecks 2006 and an announcement of the upcoming April 22 search.

-AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE: Greg Tyrell, C Tech O

WPK is in the air and HWX is just about done.  The tail is back on and the tail wheel assembly.  Thanks to Rick Macklem and Len Fallowfield for their help on HWX.  Thanks to Kent Beckham for helping give Bessy the once over before it goes on line (which it will be shortly). Dates for all scheduled Aerobatic Team bookings are posted on CHAA’s website under SHOWS.

-SERVICE UNIT SPRING SCHOOL:  Al Spiers, Service Crew Chief

March 11 &18: The CHAA Service Unit held its annual Spring School which is open to any CHAA members interested in getting involved in the correct procedures for fuelling, adding oils, external battery starting procedures, pre-start procedures, general information on CHAA's Harvard's and proper tow tractor use

The number of participants (sixteen) speaks to the success of the School and I would like to thank all the members who participated.

Twelve returning current members had reviews and updates on some new areas of interest, especially the two new acquisitions CF-RZW and CF-UFZ and their long range extended fuel tanks.  Fuelling of these aircraft is slightly different and procedures were explained. The current member group were then handed their questionnaire to be answered and returned by the next week.  Completion of the test with passing grade will bring the member up "current status" for 2006. 

We also had four new members attend the Service School and for the next two hours discussion were held on the various areas of the aircraft the Service Unit is responsible for.  Specifics as to service of each CHAA Harvard were reviewed. Other procedures that Service is involved in (fire guard, ground marshals, and back seat passenger procedures) were discussed. 

On March 18 the new members returned to the school for a review and pre-start inspection. Their questionnaires were handed out with instruction to complete and return within 10 day, and they will also receive with a passing grade the recognition of "current status" for 2006 along with the Service Wing "patch" and crest.    

-TIGER MOTH GROUND SCHOOL: Bill Long

April 1: 15 pilots attended; some were new members interested in flying the aircraft, while others attended for recurrency training. We are hopeful we'll get at least 30 hours on the Tiger Moth this year.

-CHAA’s WEBSITE: www.harvards.com

Thank you to Lance Russwurm for his ongoing efforts with our website.  As you browse the site, note and enjoy the recent changes and additions.

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