By: wieesso
- 13th January 2012 at 15:26Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just thought you might like to know that G-AORG was just out on the apron in the sun with all four engines running. No sign of any intention to fly but nice to see.
By: Consul
- 13th January 2012 at 18:18Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
As it's been mentioned above - I thought you might like to see a photo of her I took today, showing the engine cowls all open, prior to the engine runs.
By: JOE-FBS
- 25th January 2012 at 16:40Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I'm not going to keep boring people with its every movement but this aeroplane seems to be held in great affection so, today it's out on the airfield doing engine runs in the dark.
By: JOE-FBS
- 4th January 2013 at 18:26Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not much to report but as the other Heron thread has been reactivated, a quick comment about the Coventry based one. For the last year, all I have seen of G-AORG is it continuing to be pushed around the apron at Coventry and occasionally been worked on. It's currently outside. Things may have been more exciting at the weekends as I am only there Monday to Friday.
By: JOE-FBS
- 22nd March 2013 at 10:35Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just been running its engines. No suggestion that it is going to fly. Apart form the weather being awful, they will need to pump-up the nose tyre first!
By: FERRARINIGEL
- 31st December 2013 at 05:46Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
G-AORG - JUST TO KEEP YOU ALL UP TO DATE. THE FLYING DUCHESS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL IN 2014. OUR GREATEST PROBLEM HAPPENED IN 2012 WHEN DE HAVILLAND SUPPORT, AT DUXFORD, CLOSED DOWN AND WE WERE LEFT WITH NOBODY TO SUPPORT US. WITHOUT SUPPORT THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY WOULD NOT GIVE US A C OF A. WE HAVE, AT LAST, FOUND A COMPANY TO TAKE OVER AND ALL BEING WELL WE WILL BE BACK IN THE AIR VERY SOON. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SUFFERED TIME EXPIRATION ON THE WINGS AND PROPS WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AGAIN WITHOUT ANY FLYING! WILL NO DOUBT HAVE TO 'PASS THE HAT' AROUND THE OWNERS AGAIN!
By: pogno
- 31st December 2013 at 10:26Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
G-AORG - JUST TO KEEP YOU ALL UP TO DATE. THE FLYING DUCHESS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL IN 2014. OUR GREATEST PROBLEM HAPPENED IN 2012 WHEN DE HAVILLAND SUPPORT, AT DUXFORD, CLOSED DOWN AND WE WERE LEFT WITH NOBODY TO SUPPORT US. WITHOUT SUPPORT THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY WOULD NOT GIVE US A C OF A. WE HAVE, AT LAST, FOUND A COMPANY TO TAKE OVER AND ALL BEING WELL WE WILL BE BACK IN THE AIR VERY SOON. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SUFFERED TIME EXPIRATION ON THE WINGS AND PROPS WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AGAIN WITHOUT ANY FLYING! WILL NO DOUBT HAVE TO 'PASS THE HAT' AROUND THE OWNERS AGAIN!
Thanks for the update, I was worried that she had not been out and about for a while. I find it very frustrating that bureaucracy can keep a perfectly serviceable aircraft on the ground.
Richard
New
Posts: 3,208
By: Mike J
- 31st December 2013 at 10:48Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I think that it is incorrect to state that de Havilland Support closed down, rather that they relinquished the type certificates of the types that they cover and now support them on a Permit, rather than CofA, basis.
Great news that a return to the air next year is possible. :)
By: DragonRapide
- 31st December 2013 at 11:03Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great to hear that the wonderful Heron should be up and about soon. Just to clarify one point, de Havilland Support at Duxford has not closed down and is still going strong. For reasons explained on their website, they have had to reduce the level of support available to owners of Dove and Heron types, but they continue their sterling work for many DH types. There was a thread on this at this time.
Well done to the Heron team for keeping her heading back to flight!
By: FERRARINIGEL
- 6th January 2017 at 21:19Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
D.H. HERON G-AORG - DUCHESS OF BRITTANY flew for twenty five minutes a few months ago out of Coventry. During the flight test, number one developed a vibration and had to be shut down. Absolutely no problem as we still had the other three running normally. Back at base we found one cylinder on number one had split and is undergoing replacement. It was easier to replace this one cylinder rather than completely refurbish one of our three time expired engines. Number one still has about three hundred hours left on it.
The only other original D.H.Heron in the world is/was N82D based in Oregon. Happy Miles who owned the aircraft sold it to the Colombians. Sadly the pilot who collected the aircraft on 1 November 2014, despite warnings, suffered a prop separation on number three which hit number four, leaving the two starboard engines out. The aircraft crash landed on Santa Cruz-Viru Viru runway, leaving it very broken, beyond repair. It is believed no money had changed hands!
This sad news means that G-AORG is the only original D.H. Heron left in the world, still flying.
By: Consul
- 6th January 2017 at 21:36Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
My photograph of the Heron G-AORG during its recent test flight appeared in both "Pilot" and "Aeroplane" magazines along with a brief report - the owners are to be applauded for keeping this beauty active.
The accident to the US registered example is detailed in the following link, but I understood the aircraft had subsequently been repaired. This incident (the outcome of which was pictured on reports at the time on social media) is described differently from your summary - does that perhaps mean it has been involved in another accident?
Posts: 1,861
By: wieesso - 13th January 2012 at 15:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Welcome JOE-FBS! So good to know! :)
Posts: 1,772
By: Consul - 13th January 2012 at 18:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
As it's been mentioned above - I thought you might like to see a photo of her I took today, showing the engine cowls all open, prior to the engine runs.
Tim
Posts: 8,846
By: Newforest - 13th January 2012 at 18:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ready to go, where's my ticket? :)
Posts: 3,415
By: SADSACK - 14th January 2012 at 08:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
re;
a beautiful a/c, one I have always wanted to see out and about but never have. Lovely pics
Posts: 10,647
By: pagen01 - 14th January 2012 at 19:10 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Deleted previous post to add these pictures, Heron G-AORG at St Mawgan, taken on a very miserable (hence no flying shots!) 28 March 2005
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
de Havilland Heron G-AORG St Mawgan March 05 by jamtey71, on Flickr
Sorry if it's overkill, but it is a pretty aircraft!
Posts: 84
By: JOE-FBS - 25th January 2012 at 16:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I'm not going to keep boring people with its every movement but this aeroplane seems to be held in great affection so, today it's out on the airfield doing engine runs in the dark.
Posts: 453
By: Howard500 - 7th April 2012 at 22:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Is there any news on heron ??
Posts: 84
By: JOE-FBS - 4th January 2013 at 18:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not much to report but as the other Heron thread has been reactivated, a quick comment about the Coventry based one. For the last year, all I have seen of G-AORG is it continuing to be pushed around the apron at Coventry and occasionally been worked on. It's currently outside. Things may have been more exciting at the weekends as I am only there Monday to Friday.
Posts: 84
By: JOE-FBS - 22nd March 2013 at 10:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just been running its engines. No suggestion that it is going to fly. Apart form the weather being awful, they will need to pump-up the nose tyre first!
Posts: 3,902
By: Propstrike - 22nd March 2013 at 11:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I hope she is up and running soon.
Four-engined piston aircraft are becoming a rarity in the sky now,
Lanc, Fortress, DC-6, Heron...............any more ?
Posts: 3,208
By: Mike J - 22nd March 2013 at 11:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No DC-6s or Herons flying in the UK for at least the past 5 years.
There's a (re-engined) Heron in Sweden, and the Red Bull DC-6 in Austria. Anything else in Europe?
Posts: 3,902
By: Propstrike - 22nd March 2013 at 11:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A Connie perhaps, with Breitling?
Posts: 84
By: JOE-FBS - 22nd March 2013 at 12:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There is talk of Just Jane, the Coventry Shackleton (WR963) and the Coventry DC6 (G-APSA) returning to flight but the money involved is eye watering.
Posts: 8
By: FERRARINIGEL - 31st December 2013 at 05:46 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
G-AORG - JUST TO KEEP YOU ALL UP TO DATE. THE FLYING DUCHESS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL IN 2014. OUR GREATEST PROBLEM HAPPENED IN 2012 WHEN DE HAVILLAND SUPPORT, AT DUXFORD, CLOSED DOWN AND WE WERE LEFT WITH NOBODY TO SUPPORT US. WITHOUT SUPPORT THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY WOULD NOT GIVE US A C OF A. WE HAVE, AT LAST, FOUND A COMPANY TO TAKE OVER AND ALL BEING WELL WE WILL BE BACK IN THE AIR VERY SOON. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SUFFERED TIME EXPIRATION ON THE WINGS AND PROPS WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AGAIN WITHOUT ANY FLYING! WILL NO DOUBT HAVE TO 'PASS THE HAT' AROUND THE OWNERS AGAIN!
Posts: 1,219
By: pogno - 31st December 2013 at 10:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the update, I was worried that she had not been out and about for a while. I find it very frustrating that bureaucracy can keep a perfectly serviceable aircraft on the ground.
Richard
Posts: 3,208
By: Mike J - 31st December 2013 at 10:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I think that it is incorrect to state that de Havilland Support closed down, rather that they relinquished the type certificates of the types that they cover and now support them on a Permit, rather than CofA, basis.
Great news that a return to the air next year is possible. :)
Posts: 1,011
By: DragonRapide - 31st December 2013 at 11:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great to hear that the wonderful Heron should be up and about soon. Just to clarify one point, de Havilland Support at Duxford has not closed down and is still going strong. For reasons explained on their website, they have had to reduce the level of support available to owners of Dove and Heron types, but they continue their sterling work for many DH types. There was a thread on this at this time.
Well done to the Heron team for keeping her heading back to flight!
Sorry for duplication, Mike!!!
Posts: 8
By: FERRARINIGEL - 6th January 2017 at 21:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
D.H. HERON G-AORG - DUCHESS OF BRITTANY flew for twenty five minutes a few months ago out of Coventry. During the flight test, number one developed a vibration and had to be shut down. Absolutely no problem as we still had the other three running normally. Back at base we found one cylinder on number one had split and is undergoing replacement. It was easier to replace this one cylinder rather than completely refurbish one of our three time expired engines. Number one still has about three hundred hours left on it.
The only other original D.H.Heron in the world is/was N82D based in Oregon. Happy Miles who owned the aircraft sold it to the Colombians. Sadly the pilot who collected the aircraft on 1 November 2014, despite warnings, suffered a prop separation on number three which hit number four, leaving the two starboard engines out. The aircraft crash landed on Santa Cruz-Viru Viru runway, leaving it very broken, beyond repair. It is believed no money had changed hands!
This sad news means that G-AORG is the only original D.H. Heron left in the world, still flying.
Posts: 1,772
By: Consul - 6th January 2017 at 21:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
My photograph of the Heron G-AORG during its recent test flight appeared in both "Pilot" and "Aeroplane" magazines along with a brief report - the owners are to be applauded for keeping this beauty active.
The accident to the US registered example is detailed in the following link, but I understood the aircraft had subsequently been repaired. This incident (the outcome of which was pictured on reports at the time on social media) is described differently from your summary - does that perhaps mean it has been involved in another accident?
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20141101-0
Posts: 405
By: Jur - 7th January 2017 at 09:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A picture of this beautiful machine taken at Coventry in 2010