It has been almost 50 years since former Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot Kevin Jones last sat in the cockpit of his old Harvard NZ1087.
"It feels just like it used to in the old days. Quite roomy, and you can't see very much."
The retired group captain began his career in the RNZAF in 1961 as a cadet.
He flew everything from Harvard training aircraft through to the much faster Strikemaster and Skyhawk jet fighters.
The 81-year-old retired from the RNZAF in 1993, but was excited to get the opportunity to revisit his favourite aircraft.
"I loved it, it was the first aeroplane I really flew.
"It's big, can be challenging but also very rewarding.
"The North American Harvards were a familiar sight and sound in the skies above Christchurch for over three decades.
"It had a very distinctive sound made, mainly by the propeller, when you're at high power the propeller tips were close to the speed of sound.
"So that really crackled."
A fundraiser will offer people the opportunity to sit in the tandem cockpit of the historic aircraft.
Museum communications manager David King said it was a rare opportunity.
"We're a not-for-profit trust, so we use events like this to raise money to help us do what we do.
"And, yeah, the Harvard's just a fantastic icon of Christchurch.
"It flew around for so many years, everyone's very familiar with it."
King said the North American Harvards were used as advanced single-engine trainers during World War 2.
It later became the RNZAF’s main pilot training aircraft, and the springboard for many aviation careers.
"We're really proud of the Harvard, it's in beautiful condition," King said.
"It's like the last pilot turned the engine off and hopped out."
The museum wants to build a new exhibition hangar, which is expected to cost up to $20 million, to house its new arrivals.
"We've got the Orion already out the back and we're hoping to get a Hercules early next year.
"So everything we do is about raising money to expand the museum to cater to these two new significant aircraft and giving them a home for the generations to come."
Jones hopes this weekend's event will bring back memories for some and help inspire the next generation of aviators.
- Entry to the museum is free. For more information, visit airforcemuseum.co.nz/events/open-cockpit/
- By Geoff Sloan, made with the support of NZ On Air
