1952 North American Harvard Mk. IV

In Canada, Harvard Mk. IIBs were used as advanced trainers.

They helped pilots make to the transition from low powered primary trainers to high-performance front-line fighters such as the Spitfire* or Mosquito*.

A total of 20,110 Harvard’s was built between 1938 and 1954, 3,370 of them in Canada. It was known as “the pilot maker” because of its important role in preparing pilots for combat.

The Canadian Harvard was like the US version but adapted to the Canadian climate. 

The Harvard could be intimidating with its relatively big 600hp engine, the same engine used on the de Haviland Otter. Landings can be quite tricky with the Harvard. If your airspeed is a bit too low, you may encounter a wing drop that does not respond quickly to corrective measures.

About 555 Harvards were built by Canadian Car and Foundry Company at the Fort William (now called “Thunder Bay”) plant.