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In the early to mid 1950s Howard Aero Inc's Manufacturing Division started acquiring Ventura airframes in earnest, initially 35 were acquired mainly from Canada followed by 21 from South Africa. These aircraft were destined to become Howard Super Venturas, Howard's 300mph (483kmh)+ executive transport. The Ventura was chosen for it's speed, weight class and construction.

In developing the Super Ventura Dee Howard and Ed Swearingen would take a stock Ventura up to 10,000ft (3000m), feather both engines and then time the glide, speed and rate of sink. No real improvements were noted until a 36 in (0.91m) (later 48 in) stretch was incorporated into the fuselage. After that and other improvements were made Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Swearingen didn't have to worry so much about whether or not they'd see their husbands at the end of each day.

After the fuselage was extended by 48in (1.2m) fuel capacity was also increased, there were numerous aerodynamic improvements resulting in a 40mph (65 kmh) speed increase, engine cowls were re-modelled while more powerful engines were fitted, bomb-bays converted to baggage compartments and a stronger PV-2 main landing gear was fitted. Large picture windows were cut in the fuselage sides and a luxury interior seating up to 14 passengers was installed to the owner's specifications at a cost of up to $35,000. A high performance luxury flying boardroom thus was created from a drab and dusty WWII heavy bomber all at a cost of about $500,000. By September 1957 twenty-two Howard Super Venturas had been delivered, lead time for delivery was cut from 28 to 21 days. Distinguishing features of a Howard Super Ventura are it's extended nose, picture windows panoramic windshield and large engine cowl. Note too how the rear belly gunner's position is skinned over.

The Howard Super Ventura was later re-christened and re-worked to become the Howard 350 therefore becoming a more easily identifiable part of the Howard range.

Some interesting prices of the time taken from Howard Aero literature:

• Basic Plane: $263,800
• Engines: New CB-16s: $121,725 or $33,000 for zero-timed R-2800-83AM10s
• Electronics: $35,000 to $110,000
• Custom Interior: $30,000 to $35,000.

• Accommodation:8/14 pax
• Power Plant: 2 x 2400 hp P&W R-2800 CB-16s with 4-bladed props (2500 hp on 115/145 octane fuel) or 2 x 2000 hp P&W R-2800-83AM10s with 3-bladed props.
• JATO optional (approx 7 customers took up this option)
• Range: 2100 miles (3,380 km)
• Span: 62ft 0in (18.9m)
• Length: 57ft 2in (17.42m)
• Cruise Speed: 300mph (483kmh)

Know Howard Ventura Conversions:
Line#		C/n	Del. 	Notes

#1		5495	5.55	Prototype N5390N
#2		5280	9.55	Custom made.
#3		5700	6.56	See above, probably 1st production delivery
#4		5249	56
#5		5274	9.56
#6		5696	8.56	
#7		5894	9.56
#8		5258	11.56
#9		5270	12.56
#10		5591	1.57	See photo of N111M cockpit
#11		5267	2.57
#12		5702	3.57
#13		5694	4.57
#14		5494	5.57
#15		5887	7.57
#16		5891	6.57
#17		5705	7.57
#18						Coca Cola Co. 
#19		5489	10.57	#21 also reported as c/n 5489 see below
#20		5492	10.57
#21		5489	10.57	See above
#21		5598		Super Ventura, later converted to the H700
#22		5269	12.57
#23	
#28		5497	1.60	Howard 400 N510N
#29
#30
#31
#32
#33
#34		4676	11.59
#35
#36
#37
#38
#39
#40		5551	1.61
#41		6442	1.61
#42	
#43
#44		5770	7/8.61
#45		5650	8.61
#46		5793	11.61
#47		5500	9.61
#48		5854	?
#49		5560	2.62
#50		5958	2.62
#51
#52
#53
#54		5841	4.62
#55
#??		4385	4.60	N200JW		
#??		4401	8.60	
#??		5163	9.58	
#??		5170		Super Ventura N18N, later became a H500	
#??		5241
#??		5271		N200P
#??		5272	4.60	H500 N721N
#??		5275
#??		5283         	N234YU
#??		5331   3.59	N507N
#??		5333		N45CK
#??		5336   7.58	N234P
#??		5371		N5C
#??		5372      	H500 N511YP
#??		5375		H500 N420L
#??		5506		H500
#??		5599		Super Ventura N5034F, later a H400
#??		5655		H500 N3030
#??		5784		H500
#??		5892
#??		5939		H500 N139W
#??		5988

• Howard Super Ventura line number tie ups with date of conversion or at least the date first mentioned on FAA records (updated 11.2000 with info supplied by M. Rodina and Walt Redmond).
  
  
• The above list contains aircraft which went on to become Howard 350/400/500 or 700s, it is difficult to say with accuracy if these aircraft were ever Howard "Super Venturas" or Howard "Venturas". Sufice to say that these Venturas formed the core of Howard's various Ventura conversions and redesigns.