Our Thoughts Are With You: For all those members who have lost loved ones recently, please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Special greetings also go out to all members who are celebrating birthdays, marriages, birth of children and grandchildren. To those members and their family members who are recovering from and/or going through cancer treatments, surgeries and illnesses, we wish you all the best. Our thoughts are with you now and always.

Please remember: CHAA cards and notes are sent regularly to members who have lost loved ones, may be ill or recovering from surgery or hospital stay and for other reasons. If you know of a CHAA member to whom we can be sending a card (wherever they may live and for whatever reason), please send the info to Sandra This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and a CHAA card will be sent to them on behalf of the membership.

Members Monthly Meeting Dates: Through the winter months, our monthly meetings are held on Saturdays from 1000 hrs to 1200 hrs: February 20 and March 20 (annual business meeting). In April, we return to the third Tuesday of each month and a start time of 1930 hrs: Tuesday, April 20.

All CHAA members living in the area should plan to attend the Annual Business Meeting to be held Saturday, March 20 at 10AM. Following are two announcements with regard to that upcoming meeting:

2010 CHAA Board of Directors: If you are interested in nominating another member or bringing your own name forward for one of the two year Board of Director positions, please contact our President, Ray Whittemore at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-634-8360 by Saturday March 6, leaving the name, your phone number and a message.

Revision of CHAA’s Bylaws: There have been revisions to CHAA’s Bylaws. These revisions have been approved by the Board and will be brought forward for approval by the membership on March 20 at the Annual Business Meeting. Copies of revisions will be available at the meeting; should anyone want a copy prior to the meeting, email our President, Ray Whittemore, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bingo: Mark the upcoming Bingo dates on your calendar: March 5, April 9, May 27, June 3, July 8, August 26 & September 25. Bingo nights run from 5 – 10pm. If you live in the London area and are able to assist with this valuable CHAA Fundraiser, contact Torben Haarbye at 519-679-1733 for more information.

CHAA 25th Anniversary Annual Awards Banquet & Fundraiser Auction
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010 starting at 1600hrs

Location: Woodstock Legion, 576 Brant Street, Woodstock, ON
Speaker: Mr. Ted Barris (author, broadcaster, educator)
Tickets: $30.00 each
Ticket Purchase: Pat Hanna This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Donate Auction Items: Sandra Sparkes This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May 22 -- Fly Day

June 26 -- Veterans & Youth Day & Flyday

July 24 -- Wings & Wheels Day & Flyday

August 14 -- 25th Anniversary Celebration Day & Flyday

August 21 -- Fly Day

September 11 -- Fly Day

Our Backseat Chair Kevin Wittet This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is taking reservations for backseat rides over London (3 aircraft on July 1) and to Geneseo Airshow (July 9 – 11 with 4 aircraft)

Kevin is putting together a new email list for 2010 Flying Season and if you are interested in receiving emails from him with upcoming backseat ride opportunities, please send him an email letting him know. In this way, you’ll be placed on his list and be among the first “in the know” with these email updates.

2010 CHAA Calendar: Pat Hanna This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 519-658-5464

Every calendar you buy helps to KEEP CHAA’s HARVARDS FLYING!

If you live locally, the calendars are selling individually for $10.00 at these locations:

- CHAA Stores, Tillsonburg Hangar

- Spitfire Emporium and K-W Surplus, Kitchener ON

- Deals Surplus, Owen Sound, ON

- Grandpa’s Attic, Ingersoll ON

Calendars are also available by mail at a cost of $12.00 each. For all these details and more, go to the Home Page of our website: www.harvards.com or contact Pat (info above).

Thank you in advance for supporting the 2010 Calendar Campaign!

2009 Mailout Fundraiser: Sandra Sparkes This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

From this fundraiser, to date we have raised $18, 660.00 and donations are still being received. Thank you so much to those members who are showing their CHAA support in this manner; it is truly appreciated. The names of those who have donated toward this fundraiser are posted at: http://harvards.com/content/blogsection/5/37/ If your name should be there and isn’t, please contact Sandra and it will be corrected.

Please note: If you had been planning to donate, and have not done so to date, please consider sending your donation now. The funds raised through this mailout fundraiser are mainly earmarked for our next $25, 000US payment on Harvard WLH, and the time is drawing near for this payment to be made. Any donation you are able to send toward the remaining needed amount of approximately $7600 would be gratefully received. If you are uncertain how to make this donation, contact Sandra at email address above and she will give you the details. Thanks so much!

Allowable Mileage Allowances: Ray Healey, CHAA Treasurer

Attention all committee members, volunteers and pilots: the CRA regulations regarding allowable mileage rates are: 52 cents per kilometres for the first 5000 kms, then 46 cents per kilometre thereafter.

Once again, CHAA has been fortunate to receive funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). This time around, the funding was awarded in the areas of Safety and Education. Ken Arnott is the manager for this project, with other members assisting in a variety of capacities.

Under Safety, parachutes will be purchased (Bill Ritchie)

Under Education, a number of things are happening:

-- The Hydraulic Panel is being totally overhauled and when completed will be used to demonstrate and explain how the hydraulic systems work on our aircraft (Mancel Waugh)

-- The Electrical Panel, a popular item for all visitors, will be getting a few needed adjustments

-- Flight Simulator Work Stations and an Advanced Simulator are being created / purchased for use by Harvard Hawks and more (Kip Davis, Jesse Van Parys and Shane Clayton)

-- Bookcases and Storage Cabinets purchased for / installed in Meeting Room

-- An Education Program on FLIGHT has been written and is being offered by CHAA as a field trip opportunity to Grade 6 classes within an hour’s radius of our site (Sandra Sparkes, Sue Fox Beckett, Lori Van Parys)

Collecting Canadian Tire Coupons: If you have any extra CanTire Money you’d like to donate, drop it into the bins at the hangar or mail to us at our address above (attention Bill Ritchie). Thanks!

Recent Donation of Canadian Tire Money: CHAA recently received a donation of $48.10 in CanTire Money from the Property Unit of Durham Regional Police Services. We thank them and Sgt. Don Patrick (CHAA member) for bringing this donation to us. The funds have been turned over to Ron Jay in Restorations to assist with the purchase of tools and supplies for their Restoration work.

Cash Donation Boxes: Bill Ritchie, C Tech O

Five cash donation boxes are set up around the hangars where visitors and members can make donations toward MTX, LJH, COE, UFZ and Maintenance. From June 17 to December 18, 2009, funds collected from these boxes totaled $935.53! Thank you to all those who used these boxes as a means to make donations toward the work of CHAA. To see the breakdown of these amounts, go to: http://harvards.com/content/blogsection/5/37/

membership: Marion Bennell This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 519-633-0053

Thank you to all who have renewed their membership since the last Harvard Happenings.
REMINDER # 1 - to all who have not renewed – Please do so by March 1; as of that date all those members who have not renewed their membership for 2010 will have their names removed from all lists. You are valuable to us and we hate to see any members leave us; consider renewing today.
REMINDER # 2 - I am still accepting names and payment for new NAME BADGES. You still have two weeks to order a name badge. The cost is $10.00, add $3.00 if you wish your badge mailed to you. Indicate if you wish a pin back or a magnetic back and your name as you wish it on the badge. Purchase one of these and identify yourself as a proud member of CHAA at all functions planned for this 25th anniversary year.

Harvard Hawks: Kip Davis This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 519 742 7690

"I would like to recognize four Harvard Hawks who have been helping out with the winter maintenance program: Jesse Van Parys, Jesse Miller, Callum Donnelly and Alec Millea. Individually, they have cleaned, brushed, swept, acted as gofer boys and in general have been a great help around the hangers. These Hawks all have ambitions in aviation and by working with us are having a positive experience. I would also like to thank Bill Ritchie for his patience and direction in making all of this possible." Cheers!

Harvard Hawk, Jesse Van Parys ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is taking part in a public speaking competition. Jesse’s first competition attempt was earlier this month at his school where he placed first in the Intermediate Division. Next he spoke at St Michael’s School for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board competition where he placed third. Apparently, when he finished, he was swarmed by the students of that school, all wanting to know about CHAA! At a later date, Jesse will be giving his speech at a meeting of the Courtland Lion’s Club and at the Legion Level. His Mom, Lori, sends forth this message: “I always knew that CHAA and the volunteers were an important part of him but this has really shown me how important everyone is. I can't thank everyone enough for all of the love and support they give him. They truly are a part of our family.”

All of us have learned life lessons. Whether it is from a grandparent, a sibling or a neighbour; they have all taught us something that has played an important part in our lives. But me personally, I have never learned so much as from the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association (CHAA).
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, and prop heads alike, this is what I have leaned working around Harvards.
Ever since I started working at CHAA, I have learned many lessons in not only aircraft, but in family living and most importantly common sense!
When I first arrived at CHAA, I was introduced to the maintenance hangar, or where the grease monkeys hang out. This is where I became acquainted with the North American Harvard. For those of you who don't know what a Harvard is, it was a WWII training aircraft. And it's yellow. And it's big. Due to its size, I was naturally scared to death of the thing. But once I started working around the airplane, I became knowledgeable on the Harvard, and I knew where all the sharp parts were. With discovering those sharp parts comes lessons. So these are the lessons learned in the maintenance hangar, or affectionately known as the pit of grease monkeys:
1. Don't touch the radio. It stays tuned to 103.9 the hawk, or 101.3 easy listening. Old songs for well, young at heart people. If you do change the station, be prepared to hear their roar. Face it, you're outnumbered.
2. If you're going to paint something, keep it far away from the planes. If you carry something paint soaked across the hangar, there will be a little blue trail of paint that the head of technical operations will find you at the end of. I learned this the hard way.
3. Chemicals burn. They will leave some bad burns on your hands. When using chemicals like paint stripper, always wear gloves. Don't try and scratch your nose. You'll look like Rudolph.
4. Good clothes, bad idea. You will discover white shirts will become black shirts. New shoes become old shoes. I suggest wearing black coveralls. Preferably fireproof, just in case.
5. It is customary to sit and eat lunch together. You will discover everyone has their own special dish. For example, Kerry loves his tea and never cleans his cups. Rick is never seen without a diet coke in his hand. And you always ask John if that thing in his mason jar is dead before he eats it.
After I had proven I could be trusted in the hangar, I was given the chance to become a rampie. A rampie looks after the planes parked on the ramp. The ramp is where the airplanes park requiring more gas, oil, passengers, and on occasion, barf bags. Upon donning my "HIT ME" vest, I learned quite a few more lessons:
1. Being a rampie is a stressful job. Let's just say 5 pilots want 5 airplanes ready to fly in 5 minutes. It takes 10 minutes to get 1 airplane ready for flight. You do the math, I can't.
2. Smoke tanks are messy. In case you don't know what smoke is, it is that beautiful white cloud that the Harvards trail at airshows. But it doesn't come from nowhere. It comes from oil, which has to be refilled regularly. So what you do is climb in the back seat of the airplane with this awkward nozzle and start pumping oil into the tank. But here's the thing, the tanks have no gauge to tell if it's full or not. So how do you know when it's full? It's when you covered from head to toe in oil and so is the interior of the airplane.
3. Mistakes are not permitted. At airshows 25,000 people are watching you. You tell the planes when to start, where to go, and where to park. Part 5 vintage propeller planes beside some porta potties or a modern jumbo jet and you'll look kind of stupid.
By this point, I had learned lots of things about airplanes. But the whole time I had been learning lessons about material objects, I was learning lessons in family living too. I learned how to be a friend, and how the members of the CHAA are friends. They could always lend a shoulder to lean on in rough times, a word of advice every now and then, or someone to laugh along with. Ever since I started working at CHAA, I was treated like gold; so naturally, I started treating everyone else like gold.
The most amazing lesson I've learned during my stay with CHAA was that dreams can come true. Anything can happen with the right amount of effort, patience, and in most cases, cash. 25 years ago the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association was only a dream. It all started with a bunch of guys sitting around going “It sure would be nice to preserve Harvards to display our countries aviation heritage..." And then BAM!!! 2 years later, a beautiful, gently used Harvard MK 2 sits in front of a hangar in Woodstock Ontario, owned by an association of believers: The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association.
It's been 25 years for The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association; and 10 airplanes later, I'm still learning lessons in flying airplanes, breaking airplanes, and fixing airplanes. So in the next 25 years, I'll keep learning my lessons. Until then, I'll see you in the skies.

CHAA’s 25^th Anniversary Committee: Walt Irie This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 529-425-4449

The Committee is seeking members who’d like to work on this project and /or share ideas on making our 25^th Anniversary Year a success. Contact Walt to be part of this committee and help to make 2010 a year to remember.

CHAA’s Facebook Info: Walt Irie This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For those people that are web savvy you can now find CHAA and our Dive Team on Facebook.

The CHAA Facebook site is: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2341563874&ref=mf

The CHAA Dive Team site is: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=227935669109&ref=mf

We encourage our members to join and participate in discussions on what’s going on in the aviation world and to give opinions and suggestions on how we can improve our organization.

Public Relations: Bob Trowell This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

-Tours have started well with five so far this year.

-Plans for our 2010 Fly Days are progressing well.

--Suppliers and vendors have been contacted and are committed to being in attendance at our events.

--The June Veterans Day will feature a pipe band and formal ceremony honouring our veterans.

--We are hoping for more than 200 classic cars to come to the July Wings 'n Wheels Day.

--This year, our August 14 event will be enhanced with a display of vintage military vehicles and the Spitfire simulator.

--I will be doing cross-promotions with regional businesses to increase our visibility and have three radio interviews confirmed in the next two months.

--The Town of Tillsonburg will be assisting us with parking issues.

--I have spoken to regional media and all are interested in attending one or more of our Fly Days.

--My thanks to the members who have offered to assist with all the tasks involved in making our Fly Days a success.

-- CHAA will have a great season to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.

Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team (CHAT):2010 marks the 10^th Anniversary of CHAT’s first performance. Congratulations Peter, Kent and David! You continue to “wow” the audiences with your breathtaking Harvard routine, and CHAA wishes you every successful into the upcoming flying season and beyond.

BCATP: The first basic flying course of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan started on 29 April 1940, when training began simultaneously in all participating countries. More will be written about the BCATP in subsequent 2010 editions of Harvard Happenings.

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Until next time, clear skies, safe flights and smooth landings!

Sandra Sparkes, CHAA Member