Monday, September 08, 2008
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
This following Otter joined the National Guard in the U.S., being a "Guardsman" for 16 years, serving in various States. She then headed for the "northern reaches" of Quebec and Newfoundland, where she still is employed today..........
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 353
Otter 353 was delivered to the United States Army on 11th February 1960 with serial 59-2215 (tail number 92215). It was assigned to the 1063rd Aviation Company, an Army National Guard unit based at Waterloo, Iowa, and carried 'Iowa National Guard' titles. Unfortunately it is not clear how long the Otter served with this unit nor the subsequent units it flew with. In December 1966 it joined an Army Guard unit, where it served until December 1971, when it joined the Florida National Guard. In 1973 it moved to the Mississippi National Guard, where it served until May 1976 when it was delivered to Maxwell AFB, Alabama on assignment to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). It was registered N5335G to the CAP (Southwest region) in May 1976.
In 1978 the Otter was sold in Canada. A Temporary Flight Permit was issued on 18th May 1978 to St.Louis Aviation Inc, Hangar 2, St.Jean Airport, Quebec a company which specialised in Otters. Registration C-GVNX was allocated. The aircraft was formally registered the following day to Labrador Air Safari Inc, Baie Comeau, Quebec and after overhaul joined their fleet. It was reregistered to Labrador Air Safari (1984) Inc, and continued to fly from Baie Comeau. VNX was involved in an incident on 5th September 1978 at Wabush Lake, Newfoundland. While carrying out an approach for a water landing, the Otter struck power lines and sustained some slight damage. The lines were not marked, although one of the two towers was lighted. The pilot was unfamiliar with the area and the information in the Canada Air Pilot water supplement was incomplete. The damage was repaired and VNX continued to fly for Labrador Air Safari for many years. It was still with the company during 2004.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 353
January 1st, 2008. C-GVNX. Labrador Air Safari, Baie Comeau, Quebec. R-1340.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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-photo by Anthony J. Hickey
Isn't it amazing how many Otters "served"? True "patriots"..........
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 353
Otter 353 was delivered to the United States Army on 11th February 1960 with serial 59-2215 (tail number 92215). It was assigned to the 1063rd Aviation Company, an Army National Guard unit based at Waterloo, Iowa, and carried 'Iowa National Guard' titles. Unfortunately it is not clear how long the Otter served with this unit nor the subsequent units it flew with. In December 1966 it joined an Army Guard unit, where it served until December 1971, when it joined the Florida National Guard. In 1973 it moved to the Mississippi National Guard, where it served until May 1976 when it was delivered to Maxwell AFB, Alabama on assignment to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). It was registered N5335G to the CAP (Southwest region) in May 1976.
In 1978 the Otter was sold in Canada. A Temporary Flight Permit was issued on 18th May 1978 to St.Louis Aviation Inc, Hangar 2, St.Jean Airport, Quebec a company which specialised in Otters. Registration C-GVNX was allocated. The aircraft was formally registered the following day to Labrador Air Safari Inc, Baie Comeau, Quebec and after overhaul joined their fleet. It was reregistered to Labrador Air Safari (1984) Inc, and continued to fly from Baie Comeau. VNX was involved in an incident on 5th September 1978 at Wabush Lake, Newfoundland. While carrying out an approach for a water landing, the Otter struck power lines and sustained some slight damage. The lines were not marked, although one of the two towers was lighted. The pilot was unfamiliar with the area and the information in the Canada Air Pilot water supplement was incomplete. The damage was repaired and VNX continued to fly for Labrador Air Safari for many years. It was still with the company during 2004.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 353
January 1st, 2008. C-GVNX. Labrador Air Safari, Baie Comeau, Quebec. R-1340.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-photo by Anthony J. Hickey
Isn't it amazing how many Otters "served"? True "patriots"..........
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
