New Low Cost Operator starts at Old Warden

[vintage ATCO]

Well, if only . .

http://www.stevelevien.com/jpgs/heron1.jpg
http://www.stevelevien.com/jpgs/heron2.jpg
http://www.stevelevien.com/jpgs/heron3.jpg
http://www.stevelevien.com/jpgs/heron4.jpg
http://www.stevelevien.com/jpgs/heron5.jpg

[DeepC]

My car must be behind the hedge on the top picture!

DeepC

[Inverted81]

what a sight!!! wish i was there to see it.... never seen a heron before. My parents were there yesterday, said there were a lot of tigers parked up as well... was it a moth club meet or something????

[vintage ATCO]

de Havilland Moth Club Charity Weekend. We hold it every June at Old Warden. See separate thread at the top started by PPRuNe Pop.

[DeepC]

What is the biggest Aeroplane that has landed at OW?

When Mr Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth set about building his airfield on a corner of his Estate I am pretty sure he never had visions of something like that coming over the hedge.

DeepC

[treadigraph]

Good question DeepC...

Weightwise, would it be the Heron or Tony H-T's Avenger?!!

[Kolibear]

Nice piicies V-atco

Can anyone confirm that the prototype Heron is still in existance, unairworthy, in a bit of a mess, somewhere in Australia? Or is my memory fading...............?

[treadigraph]

I am sure you are right Kolibear, if memory serves it was G-ALZL and it survives dismantled downunda... An aeroplane ripe for preservation...

If it wasn't for an intervening office block, I'd be able to see the "Morton" example displayed outside Airport House in Croydon from where I'm sitting now!

[Timothy]

My wife, her two brothers, and three sisters from a neighbouring family used to spend every summer in Alderney, courtesy of Jersey Airlines, probably that very aircraft in the pictures.

They used to play a game called "Jersey Airlines" in which they each adopted the identity of one of the Herons (they were all called "Duchess of ....") and these 50 year old losers still occasionally refer to each other by their duchess name.

The oldest then was the Controller and, frankly, still is today. :( :p

[Timothy]

Oh, and another thing...

Does anyone here drive along the A23 in Croydon? I did a few months ago and noticed to my horror that the Heron had three vertical props and one horizontal.

Now, we all know that labrador puppies die a horrible death when twin-props are left at different angles, so goodness knows what happens when a gate guardian four-prop is left in that state.

Well a few days later I had a meeting with the management of Addington Palace, which also manages the airport, and lodged a formal complaint.

Now I want to know if they have moved the offending prop.

Anyone know?

[vintage ATCO]

Weightwise, would it be the Heron or Tony H-T's Avenger?!!

According to Putnam, Avenger 10,080lbs empty, 17,895lbs all up. Heron 8,000lbs empty, 13,150lbs all up.

We discussed yesterday what was likely to be the largest aeroplane ever to land at OW and no one could think of anything larger than the Heron although we can't be sure what might have landed there during WWII. After all, they stored Stirlings at Woburn!!

[Woomera]

treadigraph. It looks like the DH114 Heron prototype, ex G-ALZL is already undergoing restoration at the RAAF Museum. (http://www.raafawa.org.au/wa/museum/heron/default.htm)

I have a lasting memory of Herons particularly in Fiji - skinned shins!!! :{

[R2000]

Note:

That is the RAAF Association Museum at Bull Creek in Western Australia, not the RAAF Museum at Point Cook in Victoria.
Regards,

[Ex Oggie]

Largest Aircraft into OW

I believe that many, many years ago, there was some pacing out done, and the word Lancaster muttered around. Largest that I can be sure ever got in, was a Blackburn Velos in the early 30's. It's still there today in various pieces built into other airframes.

ExO

[Airbedane]

The heaviest to land at OW is probably the Harrier - MAUW circa 25K lb, operating wt from OW, 15 - 20Klb.

Well done on getting the Heron in, by the way VATCO, give yourself everal pats on the back!!

A

[fradu]

It's good to see G-AORG keeping well.
I used to see it frequently at Yeovilton when it was part of the Station Flight, with four other examples.

It would be great if Jersey Airlines are invited to bring the aircraft to Yeovilton for their Air Day in September.

M

[vintage ATCO]

It's not owned by Jersey Airlines but privately as Duchess of Brittany (Jersey) Ltd. I could put you or whoever in touch with the owners.

It badly needs a paint job and they are trying to find a sponsor.