Sunday, August 05, 2007
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"!......by Karl E. Hayes
Today we look for another Otter that I have "flown". I flew this aircraft between 2002 and 2005, after she had her 1000 HP "Pezetel" installed. She was, and still is, a "workhorse". Built like a "sturdy Ukrainian Baba", which I mean with the "highest respect", her day isn't done until the "work is complete".
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
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Otter 386
Otter 386 was delivered to the Union of Burma Air Force on 23rd September 1960 with serial UB 656. The Air Force took delivery of nine Otters, three in December 1958 and a further batch of six in 1960/1961. All were packed into crates and shipped to Burma where they were re-assembled and entered service. Burma was subsequently re-named Myanmar. Its Air Force aircraft were re-serialled, adopting Burmese numerals, equivalent of the old serial with a '4' prefix and deleting the UB. Thus UB 656 became 4656, depicted on the side of the aircraft in Burmese numerals. The Burmese Otters were withdrawn from service in 1985 and stored.
In 1989 six of the Burmese Otters were purchased by a Canadian aircraft dealer and shipped to Canada, but 4656 was not included and remained in Myanmar. During 1995, with the founding of the Defence Services Museum in Yangdon (where Otter 277 is on display), the Myanmar Air Force rounded up all of its historic aircraft, which were spread far and wide throughout the country, moving them to the Air Base at Mingaladon. Here the authorities made a careful selection of the machines to be restored and exhibited. The remainder were put up for sale. Throughout 1997 and 1998, Golden Aviation of Rolla-Vichy, Missouri carried out negotiations with the Myanmar government, and were ultimately successful in acquiring the complete package. During 1999, seventeen containers were dispatched from Mingaladon to Rolla-Vichy containing three Spitfires, a Seafire, three Percival Provosts, four Bell 47 helicopters, two DHC-1 Chipmunks and the Otter. As one report, entitled “Massive Operation Recovers Burmese Treasures” noted : “Otter 4656, a little bruised after its transportation and the subject of an insurance claim, would seem fit for many more years of commercial bush flying”.
Golden Aviation were primarily interested in the “warbirds”, and the Otter was put up for sale. It was sold in September 2000 and trucked from Missouri to Silver Falls, Manitoba, the base of its purchaser South Peace Services Ltd. It was registered C-GHYB to South Peace Services on 23rd April 2001. Following its re-build and re-engining with a Polish PZL one thousand horse power engine, it was registered to associated company Blue Water Aviation Services Ltd, also based at Silver Falls, Manitoba on 13th May 2002. It entered service alongside the company's other Polish-engined Otter C-GBTU (209), flying tourists, fishermen etc., to remote parts of Manitoba during the summer months.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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This aircraft is still owned and operated by Blue Water Aviation Services, and still has the 1000 HP Pezetel engine installed. I hear her "daily", usually flown by "friend" and fellow "Bush Rat" Johnny Friesen. Check out some of my "pics" of C-GHYB.
"Spring", 2005. HYB has the Hamilton Standard "DC-3" prop installed.
Flying a boat to "Hobbs Lake".
"What the"....?
No, your eyes aren't failing you. I flew a "septic tank" to Sabourin Lake.
Removing the DC-3 prop, and re-installing the 4-bladed Pezetel prop. I did not like the "harmonic airframe vibration" caused by the DC-3 prop. The 4-blader is a much better "mate" to the engine, airframe, and governor, though the performance is not quite as good as with the DC-3 prop.
Me, HYB, and a "Texas Tackle Box"!
"Yup", this "old girl" knows "how to work"!
"Adios"!
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 386
Otter 386 was delivered to the Union of Burma Air Force on 23rd September 1960 with serial UB 656. The Air Force took delivery of nine Otters, three in December 1958 and a further batch of six in 1960/1961. All were packed into crates and shipped to Burma where they were re-assembled and entered service. Burma was subsequently re-named Myanmar. Its Air Force aircraft were re-serialled, adopting Burmese numerals, equivalent of the old serial with a '4' prefix and deleting the UB. Thus UB 656 became 4656, depicted on the side of the aircraft in Burmese numerals. The Burmese Otters were withdrawn from service in 1985 and stored.
In 1989 six of the Burmese Otters were purchased by a Canadian aircraft dealer and shipped to Canada, but 4656 was not included and remained in Myanmar. During 1995, with the founding of the Defence Services Museum in Yangdon (where Otter 277 is on display), the Myanmar Air Force rounded up all of its historic aircraft, which were spread far and wide throughout the country, moving them to the Air Base at Mingaladon. Here the authorities made a careful selection of the machines to be restored and exhibited. The remainder were put up for sale. Throughout 1997 and 1998, Golden Aviation of Rolla-Vichy, Missouri carried out negotiations with the Myanmar government, and were ultimately successful in acquiring the complete package. During 1999, seventeen containers were dispatched from Mingaladon to Rolla-Vichy containing three Spitfires, a Seafire, three Percival Provosts, four Bell 47 helicopters, two DHC-1 Chipmunks and the Otter. As one report, entitled “Massive Operation Recovers Burmese Treasures” noted : “Otter 4656, a little bruised after its transportation and the subject of an insurance claim, would seem fit for many more years of commercial bush flying”.
Golden Aviation were primarily interested in the “warbirds”, and the Otter was put up for sale. It was sold in September 2000 and trucked from Missouri to Silver Falls, Manitoba, the base of its purchaser South Peace Services Ltd. It was registered C-GHYB to South Peace Services on 23rd April 2001. Following its re-build and re-engining with a Polish PZL one thousand horse power engine, it was registered to associated company Blue Water Aviation Services Ltd, also based at Silver Falls, Manitoba on 13th May 2002. It entered service alongside the company's other Polish-engined Otter C-GBTU (209), flying tourists, fishermen etc., to remote parts of Manitoba during the summer months.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This aircraft is still owned and operated by Blue Water Aviation Services, and still has the 1000 HP Pezetel engine installed. I hear her "daily", usually flown by "friend" and fellow "Bush Rat" Johnny Friesen. Check out some of my "pics" of C-GHYB.
"Spring", 2005. HYB has the Hamilton Standard "DC-3" prop installed.
Flying a boat to "Hobbs Lake".
"What the"....?
No, your eyes aren't failing you. I flew a "septic tank" to Sabourin Lake.
Removing the DC-3 prop, and re-installing the 4-bladed Pezetel prop. I did not like the "harmonic airframe vibration" caused by the DC-3 prop. The 4-blader is a much better "mate" to the engine, airframe, and governor, though the performance is not quite as good as with the DC-3 prop.
Me, HYB, and a "Texas Tackle Box"!
"Yup", this "old girl" knows "how to work"!
"Adios"!
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
