Just wondering if anyone has seen a list of D H Herons around on the net? Seem to remember having been on such a website, although it could very well have been about Dove/Devons. Just trying to make sure how many Herons in various guises still fly.

T J

Chris Wagstaff maintains a superb website devoted to all De Havilland multi engined transport – see his census data on the Heron for survivors:

http://www.chris.wagstaff.btinternet.co.uk/

Regards
Tim

Hi Jesper,

Welcome to the forum. Nice to know we have a Dane on board. I was over in your lovely country a few weeks back and visited a few aircraft museums. This included the magnificent caste as Egeskov (pure coincidence of course that they have some aircraft in their museum) and the excellent technical / aviation museum up at Helsingor. I was disappointed to find that the beautiful red Dragon Rapide that they used to have on display was not present. Do you know where it is now – has it been put in storage?

Tim

I don’t claim to be an expert in the Royal Ceylon Air Force, but I’ve never seen any reference to the organisation ever operating a P-51. The RCyAF came into being on Oct 10 1950 and was organised on RAF lines. Aircraft procurement began shortly after formation with an order for Vampire T.55s but these were reportedly returned still in their crates and alternative flying instruction was achieved using 12 Chipmunks and 9 Balliol. Some Oxfords were used for twin training. Doves and a variety of light aircraft were used in non combat roles and border patrols were conducted using Pioneer CC2s and internal security effected by Westland Dragonfly helicopters. Jet Provosts were acquired later.

I gleaned this not from any original research but from the Air Forces of the World written by Green and Fricker in 1958. I’m not aware of any P-51 procurement after that date so I’m bemused by the request for pictures but if I’m wrong bring them on!

So how many complete beau airframes in the UK have we got 3?

I would say 4 complete or nearly so i.e.: The Hendon, Duxford and East Fortune examples (though only the first is assembled) plus the SkySport example (G-DINT) at Hatch.

The SkySport example is based on the nose, forward fuselage, centre section, engines and u/c of the ex Halton machine plus parts (from Oz I seem to recall) including rear fuselage and I think also wings. I can’t recall the status / completeness of the wings or tail, as it’s some years since I inspected it and then the cockpit was partly restored and the rest was heavily dismantled. The SkySport website no longer shows it for sale but as in store.

…………and i believe another in Coventry which makes 4 ………….

Let’s not start hares running – the example in Coventry is at the MAM and previously was in the old Birmingham Science Museum – it comprises purely the cockpit – not even a complete nose.

Elsewhere in the UK there’s also a substantial but sectioned anonymous fuselage that’s been displayed at various locations over the years in the UK.

You could liaise with the Svedinos people at Ugglarp in Sweden. They’ve obtained a couple of ex BDR F-86Ds for their collection from Denmark and may perhaps have some spare items or know how to source items as the Danes had / have a number around derelict. I photographed these at their site this month.

Where have you been for the last few years!? Following the incident depicted in your link this aircraft was recovered, fully restored (I think in ’03) and delivered by air to Dulles for the Smithsonian outstation there where it is now on static display. See:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0934776&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20307%20Fgengbyvare&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Cna%20Nz&QtODMg=Jnfuvatgba%20-%20Qhyyrf%20Vagreangvbany%20%28VNQ%20%2F%20XVNQ%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Ivetvavn&ktODMp=Frcgrzore%2015%2C%202005&BP=0&WNEb25u=Znanf%20Onebbnu&xsIERvdWdsY=AP19903&MgTUQtODMgKE=Guvf%20nvepensg%20jnf%20erfgberq%20sbe%20gur%20frpbaq%20gvzr%20va%202003%20ol%20Obrvat%20nsgre%20vg%20penfu%20ynaqrq%20vagb%20Ryyvbgg%20Onl%2C%20va%20gur%20Frnggyr%20nern.%20Penfu%20jnf%20qhr%20gb%20shry%20fgneingvba.%20Vg%20jnf%20gura%20sybja%20gb%20VNQ%20gb%20or%20n%20cneg%20bs%20gur%20Fzvgufbavna%20Nve%20naq%20Fcnpr%20Zhfrhz%20va%202003&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=4068&NEb25uZWxs=2005-10-04%2023%3A23%3A10&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=2003&static=yes&width=1091&height=780&sok=JURER%20%20%28ZNGPU%20%28nvepensg%2Cnveyvar%2Ccynpr%2Ccubgb_qngr%2Cpbhagel%2Cerznex%2Ccubgbtencure%2Crznvy%2Clrne%2Cert%2Cnvepensg_trarevp%2Cpa%2Cpbqr%29%20NTNVAFG%20%28%27%2B%22Fgengbyvare%22%27%20VA%20OBBYRNA%20ZBQR%29%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=8&prev_id=0935588&next_id=0933528