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On this day in 1951, the rugged and reliable De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter took to the skies! With 466 built, this legendary bush plane became a favorite for its versatility and ability to conquer the toughest terrain. The DHC-3 Otter was developed to fly into the same small lakes and short airstrips as the Beaver but carry twice the payload. In fact, it was first referred to as the “King Beaver” back when DHC pilot George Neal was getting set to take it on its first flight. From the start, it was clear that there was high demand for the versatile Otter, as it was seen in the skies from the Canadian north to the Sinai desert by the late 50s. Important commercial customers in those early years included Wardair and Canadian Pacific Airlines, Qantas Airways in Australia, and Widerøe, which operated the aircraft on floats along the Norwegian coast. Government customers included the US Military, the Ontario Provincial Air Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Cheers to a true workhorse of the skies. |
Team: News