First Flight of the Yale 3399

June 26, 2010

  Nearly 65 years have passed since the Yale 3399 has flown. Once it was struck off from military service it was purchased by Ernie Simmons. It sat in his field until it was sold at his estate auction. It was sold in 1970 to Don Goddard who slowly started its restoration. In 1987, he sold the plane to the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association. And for the past 23 years it has been rebuilt.

  On June 26, 2010 the plane was dedicated and flown for its first public flight. Under the skillful controls of Dave Hewitt, Yale 3399 started up and taxied to the runway. With little effort the tail wheel lifted and the plane was in flight. Making several passes in front the crowd, Dave and Yale headed south to join up with a photo ship. Moments later the Yale returned on a slow low pass and quickly landed on the grass runway 02/20.

  CHAA has a collection of 10 Harvards. Seven of the collection flew in formation for the opening of the day. Two recent additions to the collection are in the middle of their restoration and the last of the 10 flew later in the day.

  To help in this celebration aircraft from one end of the province to the other end came. From Victory Wings near Ottawa came their P-40. There were two Cornells from Welland, a Stearman and a DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk came up from Windsor. Dunville, sent the sister ship of Yale 3399. The CHAA’s Tiger Moth made one of its rare appearances.

  It was a day filled with history in the making.