Canadian Airplanes: de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4276742)
Air Service de Havilland Canada Beaver.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4276745)
Air Service de Havilland Canada Beaver.
(DND Photo)
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver on skis in flight.
(Nino Blazanovic / ConcordeNick ArtPhotos)
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver (Serial No. 1500), CF-MAA.
The de Havilland Beaver was designed and built in Canada, and first flew on August 16, 1947. It is an all-metal bushplane designed to operate on skis, wheels, or floats. Its rugged dependability and exceptional performance made it a favourite with bush pilots and operators. The Beaver is considered by many to be the best bush plane ever built. Even though a number of them have been retired to museums around the world, the demand for this ‘half-ton truck of the air’ is still as strong as ever.
The original selling price was $32,000 U.S. In 1997, a Beaver – over 40 years old and in good condition – was selling for up to $300,000 U.S. The Association of Industrial Designers has named the Beaver one of the best designs in all categories to come out of Canada. Over the years, 1,962 Beavers were built and exported to 62 countries, including 981 to the USA for both civil and military use. The Beaver was the first aircraft built outside of the United States purchased by the US Military. Approximately 900 of the aircraft were bought. They were used extensively for support and medical roles. They also played a major role with the US Military Forces in the Korean conflict. The Beaver on display was donated to the museum by the Manitoba Government Air Services. It has manufacturer number 1,500. (RAMWC)
(Bill Larkins Photo)
de Havilland Canada DHC-2/U6A Beaver (Serial No. 116856), Torrance, California, March 1953.
