The Heron has been at Coventry some time now on a major overhaul, is she still there? some months ago she was almost ready to get back to where she belongs in the air, is there any news on her??
If she is ready will she be doing any of the air shows around the U.K. or even Europe in 2009??
After all G-AORG D.H.114 Heron as far as I am know is the only flying example in the northern hemisphere if not in the world.
It would be great not only see her in the air but to hear her as well.
Hope to see her soon.
By: TwinOtter23.Mk.19 - 23rd April 2020 at 13:49
Here’s they key text form their email; “……….. The Joint Liquidators are currently exploring sale options for the aircraft and ….”
I did decline their offer, but I have not heard back from them since.
By: avion ancien - 23rd April 2020 at 12:36
When you say ‘offering’, I presume that you mean offering for sale. If so, I wonder if the only likely respondent is going to be a local scrapman.
By: TwinOtter23.Mk.19 - 23rd April 2020 at 07:55
Earlier this month Recovery & Reorganisation Grant Thornton Limited in Jersey, sent out an email offering the aircraft to various organisations.
By: Stratofreighter - 22nd April 2020 at 23:20
…per this April 2020 G-AORG is for sale, again… ?
https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2020/04/17/classic-plane-for-sale-re…
https://guernseypress.com/news/2020/04/21/historic-passenger-aircraft-o…
By: Jur - 7th January 2017 at 09:15
A picture of this beautiful machine taken at Coventry in 2010
By: Consul - 6th January 2017 at 21:36
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
By: FERRARINIGEL - 6th January 2017 at 21:19
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: DragonRapide - 31st December 2013 at 11:03
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!!!
By: Mike J - 31st December 2013 at 10:48
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: pogno - 31st December 2013 at 10:26
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
By: FERRARINIGEL - 31st December 2013 at 05:46
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: JOE-FBS - 22nd March 2013 at 12:49
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.
By: Propstrike - 22nd March 2013 at 11:15
A Connie perhaps, with Breitling?
By: Mike J - 22nd March 2013 at 11:11
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?
By: Propstrike - 22nd March 2013 at 11:02
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 ?
By: JOE-FBS - 22nd March 2013 at 10:35
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: JOE-FBS - 4th January 2013 at 18:26
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: Howard500 - 7th April 2012 at 22:43
Is there any news on heron ??
By: bravo533 - 30th June 2009 at 16:30
Regard Herons fondly -I had my very first flight in one.
RAF Abingdon June 1968.
By: pogno - 30th June 2009 at 15:33
Just to let everyone know G-AORG is well and should be flying again very,very soon. We, the group based in Jersey, have spent quite, NO LOTS, of money on this beautiful historic aircraft including a re-paint and new interior. Unfortunately the re-wire and new maintenance schedule is causing us a few problems with people known as the CAA! When will you see the Duchess flying again??? Well please be patient as we are in the hands of Gatwick. You know what that means.
Yes we believe the Duchess is the only Heron still flying in ORIGINAL state.
A FOUNDER MEMBER…
Its good to hear that she is in safe hands and being looked after in the way she deserves. Its easy for examples of our heritage to be allowed to slip away, remaining only as a memory.
Your efforts and investment are appreciated.
Regards Richard
Sign In
April 20, 2009 at 9:16 am