See update at foot of page - 29/08/07
The Harvard is one of my all time favourite planes. The Flair Harvard is nice to build, although there is a lot of it to be done. This one was the GMC Aero-model of the year in 1996 and still flies today. In the past it has been powered by a ASP 46 and a Super Custom 53, with the specially made custom silencer designed to fit inside the Cowling. For the last 3 years or so, it has been in a period of retirement, but has been brought into action again for the 2004 season. Now fitted with a new RMX 48 engine, with the same exhaust and propeller as previously, it still flies beautifully. Very slow and stable, yet very controllable, and definitely looks like a full size Harvard, despite being only a semi-scale model.
The Harvard has a wingspan of 66", yet only weighs 5lbs with no fuel in it. As a result the wing loading is very low, and becomes quite a handful in much more than a force 2-3 wind. This also means it does not need all the power it has available from the RMX 48. Take offs are at just under half throttle, and general flying around is anywhere between one quarter throttle and tick over. It would happily fly on a 25, but I don't think a 25 would like swinging the 11x7.33 prop bolted onto the front !
Congratulations to Flair Products for producing one fantastic model.
Model Update - 29/08/07
The aircraft has just been re-engined with a SC-52 4stroke, the first time it has ever had a 4stroke in it, and is using Spektrum radio gear, which means no horrible aerials sticking out the side of the plane. With the 4stroke up front, it flies in a very scale manner, slow flying with lazy loops and barrel rolls thrown in being the order of the day, and it really sounds the part too. Here are some new in flight shots of the model showing just how lovely she still looks after all these years.
