This repaint depicts the Noorduyn-built Harvard Mk.IIb (AT-16) owned/operated by John Rayner in Australia, registered VH-TXN (I believe based at Tyabb airfield - same as Judy Pay). John Rayner is a member of the Southern Knights formation aerobatic team.
The paint scheme depicts one of the three NAA-built Harvards that were issued to the North African-based RAF 239 Wing (comprising of RAAF 3 & 450 Squadrons and RAF 112 & 250 Squadrons), in 1942, for 'Wing Training' - therefore available to RAAF 3 & 450 Squadron personnel (hence the Australian connection), but not actually taken on charge by the RAAF Squadrons. The purpose of this assignment of the 3 Harvards was to provide check-out flights for new pilots, to provide ferrying capability for pilots to pick up replacement aircraft, and to provide pilots trained in the RAF doctrine of “3 point†landings to train in the practice of “wheel landingsâ€Â, more commonly used in US aircraft. The three Harvards carried the serials AJ844, AJ845 and AJ944.
John Rayner's restored Harvard was originally built by the Noorduyn company (Canada) in 1943, and assigned to the RCAF as FS966. It was flown by Commonwealth pilots, including Australians of the RAAF, attending the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada during WWII. In 1946, the aircraft was sold to the Royal Swedish AF, where it became Sk 16A #16077. It was operated by Sweden until 1969, and the aircraft was retained by the Royal Swedish AF Museum until it was traded to an Australian collector in 1980. It was then purchased by John Rayner in 1994, fully restored, and the aircraft was painted in the desert RAF markings of AJ944. Later, the serial was changed to AJ844. In recent years, the aircraft has sported the serial AJ845 - thus, over the course of being owned/operated by Mr. Rayner, the aircraft has depicted all three of the 239 Wing Harvards.
I should hopefully have it uploaded tonight.
quite amazing the different paints found on the aircraft.
