Saunders Aircraft ST-27 Flight Manual

Thank-you to Peter Hill for scanning the ST-27 Flight Manual, a PDF copy is at this link   Saunders Aircraft ST-27 Flight Manual PDF

Peter Hill flew the ST-27 during his time with Air Atonabee.

 Peter's email "I used to live in Peterborough and flew the ST-27 for Air Atonabee. It's been a while and would have to pull my logbook for the exact dates but about 192-83 or so. To top it off, my dad was a professional engineer and was hired by Saunders when it was in Montreal. To young to really care at the time, I'm not sure if my dad worked directly or thru an agency or for how long, or what he was even involved in. Unfortunately he passed away a number of years ago."

Saunders Aircraft ST-27B 005 - 14087

When Saunders Aircraft did not pursue getting the Saunders ST-27 certified by the United States Federal Aircraft Administration (FAA) it followed that Saunders Aircraft needed to proceed with a completely new aircraft and perhaps an aircraft based on the Saunders ST-27 Heron conversion. That new aircraft is what we now know as the ST-28, and would undergo new certification under DOT and FAA specifications. Additionally as the number of De Havilland Heron surplus aeroplanes decreased and the price of these surplus airframes increased so the need for a new “build” aeroplane could be seen.

It would be many months before a completely new Saunders ST-28 aircraft could be built. To get a start on the new aircraft St-28 DOT / FAA certification process Saunders decided to convert a De Havilland Heron DH14 aircraft serial # 14087 into ST-28 clone instead of the normal ST-27 configuration, this test aircraft would be termed the ST-27B, Saunders serial number 005.

Some confusion arises among Saunders Aircraft enthusiasts as Saunders Aircraft was originally going to call the follow on new aircraft to the ST-27, the ST-27B but then designated the all new Saunders aircraft the ST-28.  Also the ST-27B #005 – 14087 carried the DOT registration letters of CF-YBM-X,  same registration letters  that the first Saunders ST-27 001 – 14058 carried back in 1969, again some confusion between ST-27 001 and ST-27B 005 arises.

De Havilland Heron #14087 came off the De Havilland assembly line at Hatfield in the UK in 1955 and went into service with the South African Airforce  (SAAF), and was give SAAF number 121.

DH 114 Heron 14087 in South African Airforce service as SAAF  #121 (Fritz Boer photo)

In 1964, Executive Engineering purchased Heron 14087 and the Heron was returned to the UK and registered at G-ASUU.

Figure 3- De Havilland Heron 14087 UK registered as G-ASUU (NA3T photo)

On March 3, 1971 the UK CAA registration record shows that Heron #14087 was transferred to a Canadian owner, which we feel was Saunders Aircraft Corporation.

UK CAA registration record for Heron 14087  G-ASUU

On June 18, 1974 Saunders Aircraft ST-27B, #005 - 14087  was successfully flown and entered the ST-28 flight certification program.

Saunders ST-27B  #005 - 14087 roll out (Bill Ewing photo)

Saunders ST-27B  #005 - 14087 takes off from Gimli (WFP photo)

Saunders Aircraft ST-27B  005 outside Hangar 5 at  the Saunders Gimli plant (SAC photo)

On April 14, 1975 the Winnipeg Tribune reported that Saunders had sold four ST-28's to California based airline Swift Aire.

To promote the sale the ST-27B aircraft was painted in Swift Aire colours.

Saunders ST-27B in Swift Aire colors inside the hangar at Gimli (SAC photo)

ST-27B #005 in Swift Aire colors, note the test probe on the nose (SAC photo)

By 1976 Saunders Aircraft was entering receivership and in 1979 the assets of Saunder Aircraft Corporation were sold to Otonabee Airlines.

The ST-27B and the now completed ST-28 were left at the Gimli Airport, probably because these were test aircraft had no formal type certificates.  Engines and parts were removed to support the Saunders ST-27's that were in commuter airline service.

By August 1981 the ST-27B was sitting in an empty hangar in Gimi still with it's wings on, later photos show the wings had been removed from the fuselage.

ST-27B, August 1981 (Paul Simpson photo)

ST-27B in 2001 inside Hangar 5 at Gimli (J. Stromenbergh photo)

In 2005 or 2006, the roof of Hangar 5 in Gimli caught fire, the fire was put out but  significant damage occurred to the old wooded WWII vintage roof  trusses and Hangar 5 was torn down. The ST-27B was gone from the  Gimli airport.

Fast forward to May 2019 and a phone call if I would like to look at this abandoned Saunders Aircraft in the bush near Gimli, you bet!  It's the ST-27B.  It seems that Barney Lamm of Ontario Central Airways (OCA) acquired the ST-27B. Barney Lamm then gave ro sold the ST-27B to one of his employees "J.R." and J.R. hauled the ST-27B out to his farm.  At this time the current land owner does not wish to be identified or the location of the ST-27B shown.

cheers - ken kalynuk

Abandoned ST-27B, May 2019 - note the Swift Aire blue trim (KK photo)

Abandoned ST-27B, May 2019 - note the Swift Aire blue trim (KK photo)

Abandoned ST-27B, May 2019 - elevator data (KK photo)

Abandoned ST-27B looking forward at the cockpit area May 2019 (KK photo)

Saunders Aircraft Canada - a short intro

Saunders Aircraft Canada  - a short introduction and a request for your help in telling the Saunders Canada story. "The best job I ever had"  is what one Saunders Canada employee emailed me.

Saunders ST-28, photographer unknown via the web

We'd love to hear from you, whether you or your parents worked for Saunders, DOT or FAA, Aviation Traders UK, Atlantic Aviation, ACES, St. Andrews Airways, Atonabee, On Air, City Express, Northland, Skywest, Swift Aire, Voyageur, Labrador, Aero Trades, OCA, Gimli Industrial Park,  De Havilland (Herons) or something related to Saunders or the Dehavilland DH114 Heron.

Tell us what you remember about working for Saunders, or on the ST-27's and the ST-28, maintaining the ST-27's, flying the ST-27, flying or maintaining the De Havilland Heron, email me at kenkalynuk@gmail.com  or join our Saunders Facebook group 

recognize anyone - photo by Saunders Aircraft Canada

In around 1970 the Gov. of Canada announced that "CFB Gimli", the airforce base in Gimli would  close in 1971 as a federal government cost cutting measure.

The Provincial Government of Manitoba looking at offsetting the employment losses from the base closing began seeking alternate industries or businesses to relocate or set up in the Town of  Gimli that had a population of around 2000.

CFB Gimli

One such firm that was offered a Manitoba Government grant to relocate to Gimli was Saunders Aircraft Canada based in Montreal, Quebec led by Saunders Aircraft president, David Saunders.

The 1970 September prov. gov. news release Aircraft Industry Planned for Gimli

We've been collecting material on Saunders Aircraft for the past five years and we always welcome more Saunders Aircraft material and stories, if you have something to share on Saunders Aircraft, please email me at kenkalynuk@gmail.com

We've started blogging on Saunders in January 2019 and will continue as the Saunders information comes in.
The blog posts do not follow a particular order, the blog subjects range from personal stories to technical aircraft information - use the search box on the upper right hand corner if you wish to find something specific.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely, Ken Kalynuk, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Saunders Aircraft ST-27 factory drawings

Saunders Aircraft ST-27 factory drawings - the late Andre Belanger of Saunders Aircraft saved three large magnificent ST-27 factory drawings or sketches, until I get these large 36" x 48" drawings scanned, took some photos and posted them at Saunders ST-27 factory drawings album

a sample of the drawings done by B.F. Gardel and W. Arnold in Montreal during 1969 and 1970.

2019-03-25 - the four ST-27 factory drawings have been scanned into pdf's and the links to the four pdf's are below. The original drawings have been donated to the Gimli Glider museum who may do a future exhibit on Saunders Aircraft.

Saunders ST-27 factory drawing 27L-011S

Saunders ST-27 factory drawing 27L-020

Saunders ST-27 factory drawing SA-U-004

Saunders ST-27 factory drawing 27-L-020 TF

Saunders Aircraft Canada Sheet Metal Training School

Saunders Aircraft Canada in Gimli started a sheet metal training school in Gimli in 1972. This article announced the formation of the sheet metal school.

Winnipeg Tribune 1972-06-28

People of Saunders Aircraft Canada

This week on our Facebook group page we got two group photos shown below, if you recognise anyone email me  kenkalynuk@gmail.com

So I decided to start a Saunders Aircraft Employee list, a pdf of the list at Saunders Aircraft Employee List PDF  and corrections or additions email me.

cheers - ken kalynuk

Saunders Aircraft group photo 1

Saunders Aircraft sheet metal training school Xmas group photo

Saunders Aircraft ST-27 Serial # 14095 / ST27/009 C-GCML

Saunders Aircraft ST-27-100  # 009 C-GCML started out as a De Havilland Heron DH114 serial # 14095.
This Heron 14095 was manufactured in 1955-1956 and was registered to Vickers Armstrong in the UK on February 2, 1956 as G-AOGW. In 1960 Vickers Armstrong became the British Aircraft Corporation.

De Havilland Heron 14095 G-AOGW 1964 by Dave Welch

UK CAA registry for De Havilland Heron 14095 G-AOGW

De Havilland Heron 14095 G-AOGW , July 1972  post by Chris England

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De Havilland Heron 14095 G-AOGW , July 1972  post by Chris England

The UK branch of Saunders Aircraft Corporation Canada acquired De Havilland Heron 14095 in 1972, was we believe this Heron flown to Gimli, Manitoba, Canada in 1973?

page 2 - UK CAA registry for De Havilland Heron 14095 G-AOGW

The conversion of Heron 14095 in a Saunders Aircraft ST-27 009 was completed in May 1974.

photo of Saunders Aircraft ST-27 data plate 14095ST27/009 courtesy of the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

A big thank-you to Alan Lukala of the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre for sending these scans of ST-27's 14095/ST 27/009 log book. 

scan of Saunders Aircraft ST-27 14095ST27/009 log book courtesy of the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

To follow the history of Saunders Aircraft ST-27 009 we use Joop Gerritsma's Saunders Aircraft article in the Canadian Aviation Historical Society winter 1979   to provide us an outline of the air operators that operated ST-27 14095/ST27-009.



Upon completion of the ST-27 conversion, ST-27 009 was leased to  Skywest Airlines  of Manitoba / Saskatchewan in the registration mark of C-GCML. Skywest was to lease two ST-27's, 002 and 009, for their air operation, however this government run airline did not get off the ground.

Saunders ST-27 009 in Skywest colours - photo via Martin Wienert

After the lease with Skywest Airlines fell apart because of government bureaucracy, ST-27 009 was leased in 1976 to Patricia Air Transport out of Sioux Lookout, Ontario,  and later in 1977, ST-27 009 was leased to St. Andrews Airways.

Saunders ST-27 CF-LOL in St. Andrews Airway colours, we think ST-27  009 C-GCML would have been in the same paint scheme - photo found on the internet, credit to ?

In 1978 Saunders ST-27 009 C-GCML was leased to Otonabee Airways, and then later was bought by Air Otonabee in 1979 in the Saunders Aircraft bankruptcy sale.

Saunders ST-27 CF-CNT in Otonabee Airways colours, we think ST-27 009 C-GCML would have been in the same paint scheme - photo on the internet.

In 1979 Saunders ST-27 009 was leased by Otonabee Airways  to Northward Aviation based in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Northward Aviation hangar, Whitehorse YK Star photo 1979-06-28

 After Northward Aviation went bankrupt in 1980, ST-27 009 was returned to Otonabee Airways and put into storage. In 1982 the aircraft was sold to Voyageur Airways operating out of North Bay Ontario.

ST-27 009 C.GCML with Voyager Airway, photo by Chet Eleveld

ST-27 009 C-GCML ~1985 at North Bay, photo by Steen Jensen

a page from Steen Jensen's log book, showing trips piloting  ST -27 009 C-GCML, photo by Steen Jensen

Joop Gerristma shows ST-009 C-GMML was retired in 1990 with 8913.6 hours on the airframe and were put into storage.

In 1994 Voyageur Airways donated Saunders Aircraft ST-27 009  C-GCML to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where ST-27 009 is now on public display.