WONZ 311 – David Harrison

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Guest: Air Commodore David Harrison RAF, retired.

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 2nd of October 2024

Published: 5th of October 2024

Duration: 1 hour, 26 minutes, 19 seconds

In this episode Dave Homewood talks with David Harrison, who currently works for the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, but he started his aviation career in the University of Liverpool Squadron of the Royal Air Force, and he made the RAF a career.

David talks about his training on Chipmunks, Bulldogs, Jet Provosts and Hawks, and his conversion to his dream jet, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. He would fly the Phantom for a decade, including tours in the Falkland Islands after the war, eventually was commander of the unit there on his final tour.

As he took on more senior positions he also converted to and flew the Panavia Tornado F3. He amassed around 3000 hours of fast-jet time, and he became both a weapons instructor and flying instructor. He was also commander of the RAF’s busiest flying training base at Linton-on-Ouse.

Whist stationed at RAF Coningsby, David also became an aircrew member of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, flying the two Hawker Hurricanes first, and progressing to their Mk. II, Vb, IX and XIX Spitfires. He flew displays around Britain and Europe with the BBMF during his three-year posting.

Upon his retirement from the RAF, David moved to New Zealand, and he became a CFI and examiner with Hamilton’s CTC Aviation. He then worked with Aviation Services Limited (now Aspeq). And then joined the CAA team. He has worked in several roles with CAA, and is now the Deputy Chief Executive of Aviation Safety. He now has around 7000 hours, and is a current A-Cat flight Instructor and GA examiner.

Above: David Harrison

Above: The four McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms of No 1435 Flight that David commanded in the Falkland Islands in 1990. David Harrison Photo.

An RAF Short Tucano, the training type that equipped No. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Linton-on-Ouse while David was Base Commander. MOD Photo via David Harrison.

Above: David taxiing in one of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Mk. XIX Spitfires, PS915. David Harrison Photo.

Above: David with one of the Auckland Seaplanes DHC-2 Beavers on Auckland Harbour. David Harrison Photo.