Another "whats so special about this plane Q?

[MikeBogh]

There is something unusual about this plane..know what it is?

[Galvin]

This looks like the Saunders conversion of the normally four-engined DeHavilland DH-114 Heron, a few of which were certified. If so, the original airplane has been stretched, bigger windows added, the avioncs and equipment updated, the tail made to look more modern, and the four Lycoming recips have been replaced by two P&W Canada turboprops. The Heron was itself developed from the twin- Gypsy Major powered Dove.

So is it a four-engined airplane that was developed from a two-engined airplane which has now been modified again into a two-engined airplane?

[MikeBogh]

Damn Galvin...uhhhh, I think your right.
When are you coming up to MT Vernon to BS and fly?
I'm here in my shop everyday..sewing..flying electrics in front of my house.
I have a booth in Puyallip this year..manufactures arena.
Call me please.
360-848-6407
Best to you all,
Mike

[Britbrat]

Galvin -- dammit!!!

[JimCasey]

to me, it looks like a red X in a square.

The absolute best landing I have ever witnessed/experienced in commercial aviation was in a DH Heron. We flew from St. Thomas to SanJuan. absolutely could NOT feel the tires touch at SanJuan.

Usually, with commercial flight, I wonder if the dents will be permanent in the runway.

[Galvin]

I bet that flight was pre-1989. We used to go through San Juan when we had to take off to the north in St. Maarten/St. Martin. There was a climb restriction due to the high terrain to the north of the airport there that we could not comply with if we were fueled all the way to Philly so we had to fuel light and then stop in San Juan to top off and then continue.

Every airport has its "coackroach corner" where old airplanes go to die and in San Juan it was right next to where we went to refuel. The area was the Heron graveyard. All those Herons that San Juan Airlines used to fly were parked out there in some sort of experiment to see how long it would take nature to turn them back into bauxite. Kinda sad. Back at Van Nuys airport in the early seventies I watched a Heron be converted from the four DH Gypsy engines to four Lycs. I think it may have been the first Heron thus converted and was probably one of those that I later saw wasting away in Margaritaville at San Juan.

Big Mike: I have barely time to brush my teeth anymore let alone fly. I hope to change jobs in the near future just to remedy that. What days are the Puyallup shindig going to be on? I plan on coming down for sunday at least although I may go saturday afternoon.

[Wayne]

I was going to say it was a Dove...