Warbird Information Exchange

Considering the obvious number of NA-16 aficionados on this forum, I am sure there wil be a certain amount of interest in this little lady, a BT-9 built under licence in Sweden. Predecessors of the retractable series, these 137 aircraft served for 2 decades before standing aside for the arrival of the Sk 16, aka Harvard Mk IIB (or AT-16 in americanese).

It took 20 years for this unique example to come to life, but taking your time works for the better in the long run. She's a beauty - but then I'm prejudiced (just ask Steve or Tulio! )

The photo is from the display in the Flygvapenmuseum (Swedish Air Force Museum) and shows the team which finally got the job done (although many, many hard-working souls played their part along the way - including some who, unfortunately, did not live to see her rolled out. (An interesting bit of data - in Swedish, she was rolled in!)

The construction team was made up of museum employees and members of the Swedish Aviation Historical Society and they deserve a round of applause for a job well done.

Doug

Nice aircraft indeed, and very rare, to be sure. Thanks for posting the photos. When was she completed, and how original is the airframe? (ie. how much of it is really Harvard and Yale?).

Cheers. Richard

Richard--

Going on memory, but I think I'm fairly close...this sole extant representative "BT-9" is a kind of exercise in the interchangeability of parts designed into the NA-16 series. In this case, the engine and centre section/main gear are Yale; the fuselage and tail are CAC Wirraway. I forget which type the outer wings are from.

So...we've got an American-designed, Swedish-built trainer represented by an airframe comprised mainly of parts from airframes either built in the USA for France but operated in Canada, or built and operated in Australia! Fine testament to the broad usage and influence of NAA's classic trainer...and a magnificent museum piece.

S.

G'day Doug,

So you've finally joined this site mate. Great to have you around on here. I have to apologise for not being in touch lately. You know what my movements are like though. Shall try to get an e-mail through to you in the near future.

Cheers,
Matt (of the Australian - Wirraway addicted - variety)

This aircraft was, as Steve has already pointed out, an exercise in the interchangeability of parts of the early variants of the NA-16 family. Built up of leftover bits of a real Sk 14, a Yale and a Wirraway, the reproduction is comletely accurate.

In fact, before any real work was done, a complete set of working drawings was discovered in Japan (one of the other 3 countries to receive demonstrator aircraft and potential licence agreements.)

Completion of the aircraft took place in the sumer of '03, just days before the printers released our book. Is she real? She is absolutely identical to the examples that flew with the Flygvapnet, so, you decide.

Doug

oops! Forgot! Hi Steve! G'day, Matt!

Thanks Steve and Doug for the explanations. A very interesting exercise indeed, and great to see a representation of an important sub-variant. I do love the more obscure aircraft from this era.

Cheers,
Richard

PS. Do you know what actual parts from an Sk.14 were used? I assume that they were not substantial, but it's always interesting to hear of an aircraft's pedigree.