The DHC series has been a mainstay in regional aviation since the end of World War II. One aircraft that helped catalyze the program was the DHC-3 Otter. This weekend marks 70 years since the historic propellor model hit the air for the very first time.
A new beginning
The De Havilland Aircraft Company was a master of British aviation for much of the early and mid 20th century. In March 1928, the firm decided to set up a subsidiary in Canada. Thus, the DHC propellor series was soon born.
The DHC-1 Chipmunk conducted its first flight in May 1946. This type was an all-metal trainer produced for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Importantly, it helped get the business off the ground.
The following summer, the DHC-2 Beaver also took to the skies. This plane was a versatile bush model that could take off and land in challenging environments, enabling populations across Canada’s vast terrain to be better connected.
The DHC-3 Otter was designed to be a larger and more robust short takeoff and landing (STOL) plane. As a result, a single-engine aircraft utilizing the pratt & Whitney R-1340 was produced. The type was introduced with a high wing and went on to become one of the most prevalent bush air vehicles during its peak, carrying twice the amount of payload than previous generations.
A popular model
The idea for the rugged aircraft came about in January of 1951. Then, just before the year was over, the prototype flew for the first time. It attained certification from Canadian authorities in November 1952 and went on to be operated by military and civil operators alike.
“Using the same overall configuration as the highly successful de Havilland Beaver (DHC-2) the Otter actually began life described as the King Beaver; longer, with a wider wingspan and far heavier, but capable of seating up to 11, the Otter was conceived simply as a big Beaver, able to fulfil the same functions. The aircraft features the same conventional stressed skin construction and has a braced-wing with full-span slotted flaps, the outer portions acting as ailerons,” DHC-3 tribute website DHC3Otter.com shares.
The US Army was the largest customer, taking delivery of 200 aircraft commencing in 1955. The Royal Canadian Air Force operated 66 Otters in both Transport and Search and Rescue roles and the aircraft fulfilled a diverse range of duties operating on floats, wheels and ski’s in locations as diverse as Antarctica and the Caribbean. The UN used a number of aircraft for a range of missions and the Otter was purchased by several overseas Governments as diverse as India, Australia, Burma, Chile and Ghana.”
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Plenty on offer
The DHC-3 Otter can hold a crew of up to two people. Fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Twin Wasp radial piston engine, the plane could reach a maximum speed of 160 mph (255 km/h) and a cruise speed of 138 mph (220 km/h). The plane could also reach a range of 820 NM (1,500 km) with reserves or 720 NM (1,300 km) with reserves and 2,100 lb (950 kg) payload.
Like the aircraft it was based on, the DHC-3 can be equipped with skis or floats to help it operate in tough conditions. Today, British Columbia-based Viking Air owns the Type Certificate for the aircraft. The company provides parts and support services to those flying the plane across the globe.
There have been at least eight variants of the Otter. A particular edition was the CSR-123, which was a utility plane made for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Six YU-1 test and evaluation units were also made for the United States Army. The US Army also received a utility transport version in the form of the U-1A Otter. Moreover, the US Navy took on the UC-1, which was redesignated U-1B Otter in 1962.
Continuing the lifespan
Several units have been modified to be powered by turboprop or equipped with bigger piston engines. The DHC-3-T Turbo-Otter saw either Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 or Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engines placed in. The Airtech Canada DHC-3/1000 Otter is a conversion backed by PZL Kalisz ASz-62IR engines, while the Texas Turbines Super Otter is a turbine conversion supported by a Garret TPE331 turboprop engine.
In the mid-1960s, De Havilland developed the plane into the DHC-6 Twin Otter. The aircraft’s first flight was in May 1965 and became a twin-engine replacement for the original Otter. The Twin Otter became a force in its own right and conducts skillful missions around the world. Altogether, 844 units have been produced by DHC and 141 planes have been built by Viking since 1965.
The DHC-3 still has a role in aviation today. Notably, it has been part of crucial firefighting missions amid challenging bush fire seasons in recent years. Firefighting outfits have been busy primarily deploying the plane across Canada and Alaska.
In total, 466 units of the DHC-3 Otter were built between 1951 and 1967. The type may be a rarity now, but it helped the DHC series continue to become a powerhouse in short-haul aviation till today, with the DHC-8 a global favorite when it comes to turboprop missions.
Altogether, what are your thoughts about the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter? Have you ever flown on the type or its inspirations over the years? Let us know what you think of the plane and its rich history in the comment section.
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