Wearing the markings common to all RNZAF trainers from 1970 onwards, NZ1015 shows off the Harvard’s classic profile. One of some 202 Harvards acquired by the Service between 1941 and 1970, NZ1015 has been on RNZAF charge continuously since its original acceptance in September 1942.

The Historic Flight’s Harvard and Tiger Moth join two Central Flying School CT4 Airtrainers and a Bell Sioux helicopter in a flypast over Wigram. The Historic Flight is under CFS supervision, and its aircraft share a hangar with the New Zealand-built Airtrainers, the design of which is based on the Australian Victa Airtourer.

Although flown conservatively, both the Harvard and the Tiger Moth remain fully aerobatic. Here NZ101 pulls out of a loop during a practice session over Christchurch’s Lyttelton Bay.

Avro 626 NZ203 shows off its classic lines over South Island, New Zealand, soon after the creation of the Historic Flight in 1985. Although still flyable, the aircraft is on long-term static display at the RNZAF Museum.

The Avro 626 returns to Wigram at the conclusion of an early training sortie.

NZ203 in storage in a farm shed at Hawkes Bay at the time of its acquisition from private owner J. W. R. Frogley.

The Prefect NZ203 as a civil aircraft under the registration ZK-APC from 1947 to 1958 (to 1965 ???).

The flight’s immaculate D.H.82A Tiger Moth was originally accepted by the RNZAF on October 4, 1940. It had a long and varied career in both military and civilian guises, and now wears the markings it carried while assigned to 2 EFTS in 1941-42.