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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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North American Harvard II (3840)

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Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
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North American Harvard II (3840)

North American Harvard II (3840)

Highlights:

  • A single-engine advanced trainer designed by North American Aviation Incorporated (Inglewood, California) and produced from 1937 to 1953
  • Known as the AT-6 Texan by the U.S. military, for whom it was designed
  • Used for training nearly all U.S. and British Commonwealth fighter pilots from 1940 to 1955
  • Used in Canada during the Second World War under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
  • Noorduyn Aviation Limited and Canadian Car & Foundry Co. Limited produced a total of 3,350 Harvards during and after the Second World War: its production was the highest for a Canadian-built aircraft
  • One of the most famous and successful trainers of all time
  • First flight was in 1940 (AT-6)

Image Gallery:

CASM-27249

CASM-29372

History:

One of the best advanced training air craft ever built, the Harvard became a mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Harvard IIBs were first ordered from Noorduyn in Montreal in January 1940. Noorduyn eventually built 2 800 harvards for the RAF and RCAF. Canadian Car and Foundry made 550 Mk.4s for Canada and the United States in the 1950s. The Mk.4 had an improved cockpit canopy and greater fuel capacity.

The Harvard must be considered one of the outstanding aircraft of Second World War and the early postwar years. From 1940 to 1955, nearly all American and British Commonwealth pilots received some training on Harvards. Strong yet unforgiving, requiring a delicate touch to keep straight during landing and take-off, it was an ideal training airplane. Canada built more Harvards than any other aircraft, with a total of 3 350 produced. In anticipation of a possible aluminium shortage, a wooden rear-fuselage and set of wings were developed and built, but not produced. Gunnery trainer and target tow versions were also developed but never produced. Skis were produced but never installed because a strengthened undercarriage was required.

Current Location:

On loan to the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum

Provenance:

Transfer from the Royal Canadian Air Force

This Harvard was manufactured in 1941 by North American Aviation Incorporated in the United States and delivered to the RCAF. Between 1941 and 1945 it served at several Service Flying Training Schools under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. For the next eleven years, the Harvard served with the RCAF at Centralia, Ontario. In November 1956 it was used as a ground instructional aircraft at Camp Borden, Ontario. Donated to the Museum in 1961, it was displayed outdoors at the Canadian War Museum from 1972 to 1983, before becoming part of the collection at Rockcliffe airport. Since 1996 the Harvard has been on loan to the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum in Bedford (near Halifax), Nova Scotia, where it is being restored.

Technical Information:

Wing Span 12.8 m (42 ft 1/2 in)
Length 8.8 m (28 ft 11 in)
Height 3.5 m (11 ft 8 1/2 in)
Weight, Empty 1,812 kg (3,995 lb)
Weight, Gross 2,375 kg (5,235 lb)
Cruising Speed 225 km/h (140 mph)
Max Speed 290 km/h (180 mph)
Rate of Climb 396 m (1,300 ft) /min
Service Ceiling 6,710 m (22,000 ft)
Range 1,143 km (710 mi)
Power Plant one Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp, 600 hp, radial engine

North American Harvard II (3840)

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1967.0678
Manufacturer
North American Aviation Inc.
Manufacturer Location
United States
Manufacture Date
1941
Acquisition Date
1961
Registration Number
3840 (RCAF)
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
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  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy