Work has begun in Wanaka to restore a 77-year-old former Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Harvard aircraft to operational flying standard. 

Harvard 1044, which hasn’t been flown in more than 60 years, is now owned by Masterton-based Warbirds pilot Bevan Dewes and he’s brought the aircraft to Wanaka for restoration by Callum Smith at Twenty24 Ltd, based at Wanaka Airport.

Built during World War II, Harvard 1044 took its maiden test flight in Texas in 1943, before entering service with the RNZAF where it was operational until 1958 before being put into storage at RNZAF Base Wigram in Christchurch.

In 1971 it was sold to the National Airways Corporation (NAC) which used it as an ‘instructional airframe’ for more than 30 years.  

Bevan said it was used for trainee engineers to practice “pulling it apart and putting it back together again”.   

Sold to private owners in 2004, Harvard 1044 has passed through a couple of hands before Bevan purchased it earlier this year.

Harvard owner Bevan Dewes with his aircraft at Twenty24 Ltd hangar in Wanaka as restoration work gets underway. 

Twenty24 engineer Callum Smith said it’s one of the most original Harvards he’s ever worked on. 

“Because of the low hours on the airframe, and the fact it’s been kept out of the elements for all these years, it really is in mint condition. We have started pulling it all apart to assess exactly what work is required to get it flying again but so far there are no major surprises,” Callum said.

Bevan said having the original logbook from that very first test flight in 1943 is an added bonus. Another “find” was on the inside of the rear section of the fuselage where numerous trainee NAC engineers have inscribed their names along with some rather ribald comments.

“It’s all part of the history of the aircraft so I’ve decided to keep that all in there rather than paint over it,” he said.

When restored, the aircraft will once again sport its original RNZAF camouflage colour scheme. 

Bevan has strong links to Wanaka and the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.  

He’s been a regular attendee at the airshow and in more recent years has displayed his Chipmunk aircraft, an ex-RAF trainer used for flight training by HRH Prince Philip in 1952-3.

Bevan has also been a recipient of a Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust Flying Scholarship. He used the scholarship funds to fulfil a childhood dream and get a rating in a Spitfire.  

He was lined up to fly the Auckland-based Spitfire to Wanaka for the 2020 Airshow before this year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

PHOTOS: Supplied