Post by flyboy on May 30, 2018 0:50:32 GMT
The DH.114 Heron.
Having been designed as a multi-engine development of the twin engine De Havilland Dove the Heron was intended to be both a short/medium range airliner and/or an executive/communications aircraft.
The four engine Heron 1 prototype G-ALZL first flew from Hatfield in the capable hands of Wing Commander Geoffrey Pike on May 10th 1950. It's first public debut being at the Farnborough Airshow in September that year. The first seven examples were built at Hatfield before production was transferred to Chester, and had a fixed nosewheel undercarriage.
The first Heron 2, G-AMTS, was built at Hatfield and flew in December 1952 featuring a fully retractable undercarriage which increased the top speed. Production was similarly transferred to Chester and in total 149 Herons were produced including the prototype, being 51 Series 1 and 97 Series 2 aircraft. The type was very successful in the export market with operations in 30 countries despite the limited numbers produced.
Later in their careers a number (28) of the aircraft were converted with 4x 290hp Lycoming 10-540-B1A5 engines to become Riley Herons.
The Saunders ST-27 conversion which had a lengthened fuselage, seated 23 passengers, had a strengthened wing and
2x 715eshp P&W PT6A-27 turboprop engines. There were a total of 12 ST-27 conversions made with a further ST-28 developed.
Variants:
Heron 1 Initial production
Heron 1B Strengthened Wing Spar
Heron 2 Retractable Undercarriage
Heron 2A Equipped for US market 1 A/C only
Heron 2B Similar modifications to 2A
Heron 2C Heron 2B with fully feathering propellers
Heron 2D Max Weight increase 13,500lb
Heron 2E VIP aircraft - one only
Heron C Mk3 Aircraft for Queens Flight
Heron C Mk4 --..--
Heron C Mk 20 Five ex-civilian Heron 2 used by Royal Navy.
Specification:
Crew/Pax 2x crew, with up to 17 pax.
Power Plants 4 x 250hp Gipsy Queen 30 Mk2
Span 71ft 6in (Heron 2).
Max Wt 13,000lb, (Heron2D 13,500lb)
Cruise Speed 160mph Heron 1, 183mph Heron 2.
Range 805 miles.
Note: { or [ indicate same aircraft, del = delivery, div = diversion, >=continues next line.
Visiting Herons noted at Blackbushe:
CA+001 14108 Luftwaffe 3.9.57-5.9.57.
CN-MAA 14112 Moroccan Royal Flight 3.9.57,26.5.59,23.6.59,13.4.60.
CR-IAA 14079 } Transportes Aereos Da India Portuguese {29.8.57. .
CR-GAO 14079 } Transportes Aereos De Guinea {2.4.60.
CR-IAB 14084 Transportes Aereos Da India Portugeuse 27.8.57.
EC-ANJ 14113 Aravco 30.5.57 to Leavesden
EC-ANX 14115 --..-- 6.6.57 from Leavesden
EC-AOA 14120 --..-- 27.7.57.
F-OANQ 14021 UAT 24.12.57.
G-AMTS 14007 deHavillands (First Heron 2) 00.00.54.
G-AMYU 14017 Airlines (Jersey) 00.9.54.
G-ANCI 14043] DanAir Home Based [22.7.57,27.7.57,1.8.57,12.8.57,20.8.57>
--..-- --..-- ] --..-- --..-- [27.8.57,2.9.57,12.9.57,2.10.57,30.12.57>
--..-- --..-- ] --..-- --..-- [ 7.1.58.>
--..-- --..-- ] North-South Airlines [ 22.1.58,26.5.60.
G-ANFF 14036 deHavillands 13.1.54 del. Japan
G-ANFG 14037 --..-- 00.1.54 to Japan
G-ANNO 14049} Vickers {18.6.55,7.8.56>
--..-- --..--} Vickers-Armstrong {00.9.54,00.1.56,1.8.57,20.7.58,22.7.58>
--..-- --..--} --..-- {3.1.59,14.1.60.
G-ANPV 14098 deHavillands 12.2.60.
G-ANUO 14062] Shell Aviation [5.9.55,7.12.58,17.1.59,>
--..-- --..-- ] --..-- New home based [2.10.59-3.10.59,1.11.59,29.11.59,8.5.60.
G-AOGC 14094} Shell Aviation {16.2.57-17.2.57,28.3.57,2.6.67,22.10.58,>
--..-- --..-- } --..-- {7.12.58,3.10.59,1.11.59,26.3.60,3.4.60,>
--..-- --..-- } --..-- {8.5.60,22.2.60.
G-AOGO 14096 Morton Air Services 15.12.59 Div from Gatwick.
G-AOGW 14095 Vickers 12.3.57,00.5.58,20.4.59.
G-AOHB 14100] Shell Aviation [ 16.2.57,7.9.58,1.11.58,4.10.59,1.11.59>
--..-- --..--] --..-- [ 29.11.59,22.2.60,26.3.60,3.4.60,8.5.60.
G-AOTI 14104 Rolls Royce 8.2.57,6.9.57,26.4.58,8.9.59,11.9.59.
G-AOZM 14002 Silver City 26.4.59.
G-AOZN 14005} Silver City {24.3.57,6.4.57.
--..-- --..--} Silver City / Manx {00.5.58.
G-APEV 14125] deHavillands [8.9.57 ex Farnborough Airshow,>
--..-- --..--] --..-- [15.9.57,27.5.59,11.6.59.
G-APKT 14019} Eagles for sale ex PLUNA CX-AOR {3.1.59,22.2.59,30.3.59,4.4.59,9.4.59>
--..-- --..--} --..-- --..-- {23.8.59,26.8.59,29.8.59,6.9.59>
--..-- --..--} --..-- --..-- {4.10.59,21.4.59.
G-APKU 14025] Eagles for sale ex PLUNA CX-AOS [4.1.59,22.2.59,30.3.59,4.4.59,9.4.59>
--..-- --..--] --..-- --..-- [21.4.59,14.8.59,16.8.59,23.8.59,>
--..-- --..--] --..-- --..-- [26.8.59,29.8.59,6.9.59,1.11.59,>
--..-- --..--] --..-- --..-- [22.2.60,3.5.60.
G-APKV 14045 Shell ex CX-AOU 3.10.58.
G-APKW 14046} Eagles for sale ex PLUNA CX-AOV {7.11.58,16.11.58,25.11.58,22.2.59,>
--..-- --..-- } --..-- {10.3.59,30.3.59,9.4.59,21.4.59>
--..-- --..-- } --..-- {14.7.59,26.7.59,1.11.59,11.1.60>
--..-- --..-- } --..-- {22.2.60.
G-APMV 14128 Ferranti 2.9.58-3.9.58,5.9.58,7.9.59-11.9.59.
G-APRK 14050 Balfour Engineering Co. 29.11.59.
I-BKET 14114 Fiat 3.9.57.
PK-GHB 14015 Garuda 16.10.53,17.10.53 del Jakarta.
PK-GHG 14022 --..-- 13.11.53,14.11.53 del Jakarta
PK-GHI 14026 --..-- 00.12.54.
SA-R5 10450 Saudi Arabian Air Force 16.10.55,6.2.58 to Leavesden.
XH375 14059 RAF Queens Flight Heron C3 7.8.56,3.3.57,00.6.59.
XM295 14129 --..-- Heron CC2 4.4.59,6.4.59 with Duke of Gloucester.
XM296 14130 --..-- Heron C4 9.4.59-10.4.59,11.6.59,8.9.59-9.9.59.
ZS-DIG 14051 Anglo-American Corp. S.Africa. 00.2.56,5.4.59.
Credits:
rzjets
rj for data and dates
enthusiasts for logs supplied
wikipedia
PB for the photographs
complete JSM 31.5.18