DH.104 Dove Preservation Group
Hi Guys, There has been a website and facebook page setup to try and help Preserve the DH.104 The tough economic climate has seen the number of Doves and Devons around the world drop dramatically. Here in Australia there were 7 airworthy Dove's at the turn of the century now there is 1. By my research it is the same storey in the UK and USA, with aircraft not only no longer airworthy there have been a lot end up at the scrapies. Please checkout the pages, there are lots of photo's and we are trying to add new material all the time. DH.104 Dove Preservation Group https://www.facebook.com/pages/DH104...23574834358937 Regards, Daniel Sherburn DH.104 Dove Preservation Group |
GOPLC flies regularly in the UK.
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Thanks Guys,
I also believe G-HBBC is being restored to flying condition Again after being out of the air for 3 years, of course there is G-DHDV aswell. In Australia we only have the ex RN Sea Devon XJ324 VH-DHI Flying VH-OBI is still on the register but has not be airbourne since 2006 Cheers Dan. |
de Havilland Factory 1948
Hi Guys,
Found this clip of the de Havilland factory at Hatfield in 1948 some great shots of Dove's bewing assembled http://www.britishpathe.com/video/de...rcraft-factory Cheers Dan. |
Always thought the Dove an attractive little workmanlike machine even back in the 60s. Came across VH-MAL when visiting son in Brizzy earlier this year - would it fly again?
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Years ago, there were Doves in commercial service with two tiny airlines from BKL in Cleveland. BKL had a small commercial terminal but was never able to sustain commercial service for very long simply because the main airport, CLE was so close and Cleveland never had enough traffic to support two commercial airports.
Another carrier operated a commuter service in Allegheny colors to small Ohio cities from CLE using at least two Doves and a Herron, based upon the number I saw on the ground simultaneously. IIRC, all of these had been re-engined with HO powerplants. Nice to see a group dedicated to keeping a few Doves in the air and out of the scrappers. |
A long time ago (1975) I was lucky enough to go on a round Britain in a day trip on the then Hawker Siddeley owned G-ARBE company plane. My dad (RAF officer) knew Derek Whitehead, then then chief test pilot for Blackburn / HS / became BAe who offered me a seat from Brough on a day trip, can't remember now where we went, but know Woodford was the last but one stop, before said pilot thought he'd have some fun with the cocky young pup down the back. Handled well, that Dove and I was a little poorly during some limited aeros.
Lovely memories, and oh how special did I feel at the tender age of 14 or 15 ? |
overfly
Always thought the Dove an attractive little workmanlike machine even back in the 60s. Came across VH-MAL when visiting son in Brizzy earlier this year - would it fly again? For many years the aeroplane (then VH-DSM) was stored in the open seemingly abandoned at Evans Head. After it went to the Queensland Air Museum one visitor was very pleased to see it on display. He was an airworthiness surveyor with CASA and explained the reason for his delight; "That means there will be no more applications for ferry permits out of Evans Head." "Workmanlike" you bet. The Dove was certified as an airliner so it's not your average light twin. Rgds |
Walking home this evening as it was getting pretty dark (what a sunset!), heard what sounded very much like a pair of Gipsy Queens - had to have been a Dove! Heading west from the Biggin Hill direction, probably overflew Kenley. All I could see was the anti collision beacon winking seductively...
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Hi Guys,
Great see all your comments and stories. If any one in the States is interested there are 2 doves fors ale at the moment links below. http://dh104preservation.webs.com/ap...111ze-for-sale N104DV ex VH-DHA For Sale Cheers Dan. |
Hi People,
heaps of new(old) photo's uploaded to our website. check them out! Photos http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/38/3...mation%201.jpg |
Brake Bags
Hi People,
We are chasing some servicable Brake bags(or any for that matter!) Devonair have none availble. If you can help please drop us an Email [email protected] Regards, D.P.G |
Back when I worked at Bournemouth Airport we had the task of shoehorning a Devon/Dove into a shipping container to send to Aus. Any idea which one that might have been?
IIRC, we left a little 'present' in there with it for the Aussie P.M. |
Hi blue up,
Depends on when we are talking. if its the late 80's earley 90's there were 5 that came here, 2 Sea Devons XJ319 & 324, 2 Dove 8's G-ASMG & G-LIDD and a RAF Devon VP958 as for the present am I to guess it wasnt pleasant? never heard about it here. Cheers, Dan |
It was just after that occasion when the Aussie PM was photographed 'handling' the Queen, if that helps.
I seem to recall that the guys who made the wooden frame for the fuselage had made a noose and strangled and empty can of Fosters with a placard below it reminding the PM what he would get if he didn't keep his hands off of 'Betty' :) We had several aircraft come through the workshop in a period of just a few years so I can't remember which one it was. I had some DH manuals here for the Hydromatic props until a few years ago. I'll have to have a think about where they went. |
ah now I get it, I do remember him throwing his arm around our head of state as if it were some Sheila down the pub! Looked as if he was,tempted to try a tap on the bum too!
embarrassing moment for all I think given when it the groper from downunder indecent happened it was probably XJ319, I will talk too one of the guys that unpacked it and see if he remembers. Cheers, Dan |
I too flew in Dove G-ARBE, from the HSA test airfield Holme-on-Spalding-Moor to Boscombe Down to pick up Derek Whithead and his navigator after they had delivered a Buccaneer for testing. Ex test pilot Dickie Chandler was in the left seat and we even had a navigator for the trip down the airways.
All was not well on our arrival at BD... as I recall a pin needed to be inserted somewhere in the nose undercarriage mechanism, just in case, and this had not been done.. the once mighty Buccaneer was resting forlornly on its nose. Whitehead was not impressed and I well remember the big man in the confines of the Dove's cabin with steam coming out of his ears for the entire flight back to HOSM. Went up with Dickie Chandler on another flight in RBE, this time out of her base at Brough, to capture sky-and-cloud footage for a ballet production. Being an apprentice could be fun! Robert |
http://www.aviationmuseum.co.nz/cms/...55-255-255.jpg
DH104 Devon at Ashburton Aviatation Museum (NZ). 17 hours total time on the air frame. |
WOW only 17 hours, there are two other dove that have been claimed to be the lowest time airframes 1 in here in oz with 1700hrs 1 in the states with 600hrs but this would take the cake.
Cheers Dan |
One of a few dozen bought by the RNZAF and this one was stored in reserve and never called upon. It was 'disposed' of like the others and this one spent time under a hedge and serving as a chook house etc. It was quite a restoration job for us but will never fly again as the spars have deteoriated. At least thats how I understand the story of 'our' Devon.
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Thanks John,
Shame she wont fly but looks like a top Resto none the less, if you would like to email some more photo's and the storey of her restoration i can put them up on the FB page and Website. [email protected] Cheers, Dan. DH.104 Dove Preservation Group https://www.facebook.com/pages/DH104...23574834358937 |
Dan, I will be out there on Saturday and see what I can find..
John |
What is it with the Kiwis and low-time airframes?
There is a Spitfire XVI in the Auckland Museum with only 638 hours! :{ Spitfire - Our galleries - Auckland War Memorial Museum |
I understand the newly retired DC3 (ZK-AMY) is quite low hours too, 18,000 or so.
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<<There is a Spitfire XVI in the Auckland Museum with only 638 hours!>>
I bet it was only used for going to church on Sundays too! Not sure if this is the aircraft in John Hill's post earlier.... http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/...psbbcd8f0d.jpg |
Hi Brendan,
NZ1808 is still airworthy the Devon with 17 hour is NZ1829. I will add you new pic to the website, do you have any more Dove/Devon photo's you havent put up on ABpic yet? Cheers, Dan |
I bet it was only used for going to church on Sundays too! |
Hi People,
Just a quick message to thank everyone for their support of this project, it is only early days but there are 18 members on our website and we reached 100 likes on facebook todayhttp://forum.keypublishing.com/image.../eagerness.png. Below is a photo courtesy of Stuart Miller of NZ1805 that is taking to the skys again in 2014(if it hasn't already done so) Thank you, Daniel Sherburn https://www.facebook.com/pages/DH104...23574834358937 DH.104 Dove Preservation Group http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/27/2...n/1432083F.jpg |
John,
I think HD's comment was in reference to the apocryphal used-car advert: "One owner, low mileage. Use by a little old lady to go to church on Sundays." My mother had a car like that. Her dealer used to boast that it was the lowest-mileage vehicle for its age that they serviced. I think she drove 20,000 miles in about 20 years! |
DanS333,
Here's another picture of NZ1808, taken at Tauranga in December 2009, some time after HD/Brendan's visit. http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps4e579139.jpg Note that the lettering on the fuselage is now more appropriate to the colour scheme. I can send you a higher-res version if you wish. PS I've signed-up on the website. |
Great piccy.. Tauranga also has a superb Heron which my wife and I went inside. Have never been inside a Dove - yet!
Dans333.. I'm busy going through all my pics for Air Britain and will upload any Doves/Devons. Take care all..... Bren/HD |
Tauranga also has a superb Heron http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psfcab93c4.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psea38a548.jpg I'm going to be back there in November. I think I'll ask if I can line-up the props. ;) PS I see there's another fixed-gear Heron at Newark. |
PS I see there's another fixed-gear Heron at Newark. http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1054748M.jpg And one in Norway: http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1299010M.jpg And a Japanese one: http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1006494M.jpg Plus a barely surviving one in Oz: http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1050789M.jpg |
I think HD's comment was in reference to the apocryphal used-car advert: |
I believe there are the remains of at least four Devons at Ashburton.
One which was flying until a couple of years ago (I will try and get a picture of that one), the one on display in the museum, one disassembled and stashed in a shipping container where it has been for about three years and one in a shed of which only the front of the fuselage was recognisable. |
I am very sorry to read about the Heron at Tauranga. When Ruth and I visited in March, 2007, it was immaculate. Great shame.
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the sad looking heron minus wings pictured is the prototype. Hopefully restoration will begin soon
cheers |
The Devon in the hangar at Ashburton that was flying about two years ago is ZK-XNZ. I understand it changed hangars a couple of days ago and got a little engine run at the same time.
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Thanks John,
good to hear she had a run, hopefully she will get a chance to stretch her wings again soon, keep us updated if can. Cheers, Dan below is one of my photo's of NZ1817 at Mildura, now in the hands of a private collector and sadly once again will probably never fly again. http://dh104preservation.webs.com/ph...14709-0001.jpg |
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