At a time when four engine aircraft were still relatively rare, the Heron was well received by flight crews and by passengers who appreciated the additional safety when operating into more remote locations. Some 150 were built and exported to around 30 countries. Later, a number of Herons were fitted with 290 hp (216 kW) Lycoming IO-540 flat-six piston engines.The modifications were carried out by the Riley Turbostream Corporation of the USA and so became known as the Riley Heron. Due to clutter it was difficult to get a nice side on shot but this view shows the flat engine conversion nicely.

Delivered to Devlet Hava Yollari as TC-HAK in 1955 who were renamed to Turk Havak Yollari in 1956. Sold as N481R 1966. To Wright Airlines as N506FW and converted to a Riley Heron in 1967. To Swift Aire as N414SA in 1974. then to Pacific Alaska Airlines in 1983. To Sunflower Airlines as DQ-FEF and destroyed in a fatal crash on approach to Nadi, Fiji in 1986.

Registered to Shackleton Aviation Ltd on 16 May 1969 as G-AXFH

De Havilland Heron #14058 became the first Saunders Aircraft ST-27 conversion. 14058 had a remarkably interesting history prior to being purchased by Saunders Aircraft. Heron #14058 came off the De Havilland Aircraft assembly line at Broughton (Chester) in 1954 was delivered to the Royal Air Force and given RAF registration XG603. XG603 was attached to the British Joint Services Mission in Washington, DC. Sold in October 1968 it went to Baginton for conversion for Cimber Air as OY-DNJ. CF-YBM-X (ST-27/001), CF-YBM, HK-1286-X, HK-1286, damaged 22.2.1973 Manizales, C-GYCQ.

In the hangar of Executive Air Engineering Ltd

ex G-AOGU awaiting ferry flight as CF-JFH then conversion to a Saunders ST-27 for Air Atonabee and later Cité Express as C-FJFH. Originally Cambrian Airways from 1956-1960, Metropolitan Air Movements (Gatwick) 1960-62 before sale to Sudflug, Germany as D-CASI. Sold to Faroe Airways and re-registered in Denmark as OY-DPO. Back to Executive Air Engineering Ltd at Baginton in June 1967 as G-AOGU and then sold to Luftmerkur Bedarsflug GmbH, West Germany as D-CAHA in 1970.

Ex CX-AOR, G-APKT, 9L-LAG. On its way to Canada for conversion to ST-27 standard, but was broken up instead.

Outside Executive Aircraft Engineering's hangar. I-BKET to G-ARUA to OY-DGR to N568PR, broken up Opa Locka, Florida. The first photo I ever had published in A J Jackson's "Register Review" in Air Pictorial

(photographer not known)

in cargo configuration - stored engine-less

Ex G-ARTI, bought 19 January 1970; sold to Flight One Co. 29 September 1972 with onward sale to Prinair the same day and re-regd. N581PR; converted to Prinair Heron (with turboprop engines) in 1973.

Re-registered N411SA in 1974. Photo by Steve Kraus.

Built as standard Heron 2D with Gipsy Queen engines and delivered to the WGAF as CA+001, this was one of two for the Chief of Staff and Chancellor, returning as G-ASFI in 1964. It was sold on to Transportes Aereos de Guinea Portuguesa as CR-GAT and bought by Connellan Airways in 1970, who rebuilt VH-CLW at Alice Springs in 1972 as a Riley Heron with four Lycoming IO-540 engines and 3 blade props. It was leased to Kendell Airlines in 1976 and sold to Air Tungaru, Kirabati becoming T3-ATA in 1981 and then DQ-FDY with Sunflower Airlines, Fiji in 1984. Back to Australia in 1997 and to CAAM in 2012

acquired by Connair (Australia) in June 1975 and awaiting her conversion to a Heron 2D/A1 model with Lycoming engines before entering service (photographer not known)

Registered as G-AOTI in 1956. Preserved at London Colney from 1995.