Canoe, Hunt, Fish, and Fly, by Otter

OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #88" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".

This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................



***MYSTERY SOLVED!***

This is the cockpit of the Republic "Seabee"! Good job, guys, "4 for 4", and the "sailboat fuel" goes to Curt!



LINK - Seabee AMPHIBIAN!

Fortunately, the Otter was built in enough numbers and was durable enough that she wasn't a "short-lived" aircraft, and has built a great history, and continues to do so. Unfortunately, a few Otters have "faded to oblivion" leaving few details behind. Here is one such Otter, another "Vietnam Vet"........

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 323

Otter 323 was delivered to the United States Army on 14th April 1959 with serial 58-1708 (tail number 81708). It was assigned to the 18th Aviation Company, Fort Riley, Kansas and deployed to Vietnam with the Company in December 1962. The Otter continued to fly for the 18th Aviation Company until May 1966 when it was returned to the United States for depot level maintenance at the ARADMAC Depot, Corpus Christi, Texas. On completion of the work in July '66 it was returned to Vietnam, joining the 54th Aviation Company, with whom it served until March 1969. It was then shipped home, arriving at the Sharpe Army Depot, Stockton, California in September '69 and being transferred the following month to the Atlanta, Georgia Army Depot, where it was put into storage. In January 1971 81708 was assigned to Yuma, Arizona as a test support aircraft and continued flying from Yuma until damaged in an accident in November 1972. The damaged aircraft was scrapped.

- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Passed on" far too young............


- photo by George Downer, circa 1963-64. Flight of two Otters off Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Pictured aircraft, Otter 323, on a test flight, George in right seat of unknown numbered Otter. Both from 18th Aviation Company, Nha Trang.


CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes

OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #87" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".

This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................



***MYSTERY SOLVED!***

This is the cockpit of the Gippsland GA8 "Airvan"! Duncan, you are "the man"! Enjoy the "sailboat fuel"!

We all know that the Otter served the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario well. Here is an Otter that "served", went on loan to help out in other provinces, and is a veteran "water-bomber". She served "The Ministry" for 31 years, then went back to the "private sector". She stayed in Ontario for a number of years, before migrating to Alaska, where she still is today, and spends some of her time "fishing". Check out "Norville's Otter".........

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 15

Otter number 15 was delivered to the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS) as CF-ODL on 28th May 1953, registered to the Department of Lands & Forests, as were all the OPAS Otters. It performed the same duties as its sister ships, as described for number 13. The OPAS Otters were also available to other provinces in need of assistance. In August 1961, CF-ODL undertook a three day ferry flight through high winds and rainstorms to Newfoundland. On its first day of operation, 14th August, assigned to protect fishing outposts from a 400,000 acre fire near Traverse Brook, the Otter dropped 38 loads in 6 hours 40 minutes. The next day, assigned to a three mile section of fire line in a combined assault with ground crews, the Otter flew nearly 11 hours, dropping 94 loads. In 1963 ODL was involved in an interesting salvage operation, when it flew to Algonquin Park to assist in the retrieval of a historic Fairchild KR-34 CF-AOH, which had crashed there. The frame and floats of the Fairchild were attached to the Otter's floats and flown back to Sault St.Marie.

As with all the OPAS Otters, number 15 was re-registered in September 1972 to the Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources, becoming C-FODL. It continued serving the provincial government for 31 years, until sold in December 1984 to Slate Falls Airways Ltd. As with many of the former OPAS Otters, it remained in Ontario, its new base being at Sioux Lookout, where it was to remain for many years. As the Trans Canada highway runs through Ontario, route 72 heads off to the north, and at the end of this road is Sioux Lookout, ideally placed to serve the interior of the province. ODL joined C-FITS (90) with Slate Falls Airways, both Otters being re-registered to Slate Falls Airways (1987) Ltd following a re-structuring of the company that year.

In May 1989 C-FODL was sold on to Sioux Air Ltd, with whom it flew for three years and in July 1992 it was registered to Sioux Lookout Fly-In Camps, all the while remaining based at Sioux Lookout. In May 1993 it was sold on to Matt's Air Service Ltd, also based at Sioux Lookout, painted in a most attractive two-tone blue colour scheme with white trim. One minor incident was recorded, on 31st March 1995. The Otter, with only the pilot on board, departed from an ice strip at the Slate Falls Reserve, returning to its base at Sioux Lookout. Shortly after take-off, the pilot noticed a decrease in the aircraft's performance and saw that the left wheel-ski had become partially detached from the aircraft, being supported only by its check cables. The pilot diverted the flight back to the Slate Falls Reserve, and landed without further incident. ODL sustained minor damage to the left wheel-ski, which was repaired and the aircraft returned to service.

ODL continued in service with Matt's Air Service until sold to Bishop Aviation Inc in June 2001. It was flown south to the base of the new owner in Decatur, Texas where it was converted to turbine power with the Garrett TPE-331 engine, becoming the third such conversion. It was registered N150BA on 3rd July 2001 to Texas Air Cargo Inc of Decatur, replacing the crashed prototype of this conversion, N120BA (115). It became the Texas Turbines demonstrator. In February 2003 it was advertised for sale: “Texas Turbines 1000hp 'Super Otter' demonstrator is for sale for less than it cost to buy an airplane and do the conversion”. It had a new paint scheme and 100 hours since the factory engine had been installed. According to Texas Turbines, they had enough satisfied customers, didn't need a demonstrator any more and word of mouth was their best advertising. Prices quoted were $775,000 on wheels without radios, $805,000 with radios and $955,000 on Wipline 8000 floats with radios.

The Otter was sold in May 2003 and on 2nd June 2003 was registered to Kenai River Xpress LLC of Soldotna, Alaska. This is the company of Alan Norville, a commercial land developer based in Arizona, but who bought the Otter for travel around Alaska during the summer months, on sightseeing, fishing trips etc. The Otter was named “Norville's Otter”, which was painted on the nose, and it was flown all the way from Decatur, Texas to Soldotna, Alaska. It then arrived at Vernon, BC in late October '03 for the installation of a new customised interior, with plush leather seating in the cabin, and to be fitted with bubble windows for greater viewing, the work being undertaken by Kal Air at Vernon. The Otter then returned to Alaska, where Mr.Norville has a second home on the Kenai River in south central Alaska.

*** LATEST UPDATE!***

Otter 15

January 1st, 2008. N150BA. In private use with Kenai River Xpress, Soldotna, Alaska named “Norville’s Otter”. Texas Turbine.

- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Otter is "renowned" for her "robust" airframe, sure glad the "turbine conversions" are extending her service life another "50 years"........


-photo by Rich Hulina

**CHECK OUT A RECENT PICTURE OF** - "Norville's Otter"!

CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes

OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #86" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".

This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................



***MYSTERY UNSOLVED!***

This is the cockpit of the Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" (Sturzkampfflugzeug)! The "sailboat fuel" doubles next week!

Here is a "fine-looking" 52 year old "lady" that continues in the workforce to this very day. She has worked overseas, but came back to live in Canada. She had a serious injury earlier in her life, but she "rehabilitated and recovered" and returned to "100%". She is still today in her "original configuration", no "liposuction" or "botox" for this "Canadian girl"!

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 157

Otter 157 was delivered to the United States Army on 5th September 1956 with serial 55-3301 (tail number 53301). It was assigned to the 3rd Aviation Company, Fort Riley, Kansas and moved with the Company when it deployed to Illesheim, Germany in July 1957. The Otter was noted visiting Croydon Airport, London on 13th March 1958. When the 3rd Aviation Company disbanded in November 1959, 53301 was assigned to the 2nd Aviation Company, based at Verdun, France where it continued to serve until March 1964. In May '64 it arrived at the New Cumberland Army Depot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where it underwent depot level maintenance and then storage. In September 1966 it was put into storage at Fort Sam Houston, Texas until February 1968, when it was transported to Vietnam and joined the 54th Signal Brigade. It served with that organisation until July 1969 and was then entrusted to the 520th Transportation Battalion, who prepared it for shipment home. It arrived at the Army's Forest Park, Atlanta, Georgia depot in September 1969 where it was put into storage until May 1972, when it was deleted from the inventory and put up for disposal as military surplus.

It was acquired by Kyro's Albany River Airways of Thunder Bay, Ontario, to whom a Certificate of Registration as CF-DAK and Flight Permit for Importation Flight from a location in Minnesota was issued on 24th April 1973. Quite how it got from Atlanta to Minnesota is not known. It was formally registered to Kyro's as CF-DAK on 6th June 1973. Over the years that followed, it was to be operated by quite a number of bush carriers in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Its next operator, in 1974, was Green Airways Ltd of Red Lake, Ontario and it was to serve them for twelve years as C-FDAK. It then went through a succession of operators - Pickle Lake Air Services Ltd of Pickle Lake, Ontario (1986); V.Kelner Airways Ltd of Pickle Lake, Ontario (1987); Parsons Airways Northern Ltd of Flin Flon, Manitoba (1988); Mid Canada Sky Services Ltd of Lynn Lake, Manitoba (1990) and Pourvoierie de la Seigneurie du Lac La Croix Inc of St.Ann de Sorel, Lac La Croix, Quebec from June 1992.

In August 1994 it was registered to Air Saguenay (1980) Inc of Lac Sebastien, Chicoutimi, Quebec with whom it was to serve for many years. On 26th September 2001 at Riviere Chateaugua, 170 miles north of Schefferville, Quebec, while cruising at 400 feet under a low ceiling, the engine began to vibrate strongly. Application of power produced explosions of flame. The pilot made an immediate landing on a small lake but due to the low altitude from which the descent was made and the wind, this resulted in a heavy landing on the water. The engine was torn from its mounts, as were the floats, part of the float attachment entering the cabin and causing minor injuries to one of the occupants. Subsequent examination did not reveal any defects in the engine, but conditions at the time were favourable to carburettor icing. The Otter was repaired and returned to service with Air Saguenay.

*** LATEST UPDATE!***

Otter 157

January 1st, 2008. C-FDAK. Air Saguenay, Chicoutimi, Quebec. R-1340.

- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Typical "jouneyman" Otter still serving the "Canadian bush". The "plummet" from 400' reminds me of an incident I had in 2007, will write about it soon.........



CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes

OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #85" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".

This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................



***MYSTERY SOLVED!***

This is the cockpit of the Grumman S2F ("Stoof") "Tracker"! Duncan wins the "sailboat fuel", good thing, he lives right beside Lake Winnipeg! "Honourable mention" to Lance, Duncan had a quicker "trigger finger" this time. Thanks for taking part, "guys"!

South America, Antarctica, a "jump-plane", to Alberta, then British Columbia, up to the Yukon, “El Caballero Rojo” had "one helluva' history"!

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 447

Otter 447 was delivered to the Argentine Air Force, the Fuerza Aerea Argentina, on 10th February 1965, with serial P-11. It was one of two Otters delivered that day, the other being number 448, serial P-12. Both were acquired for survey work and were equipped with aerial cameras. Whereas the basic price of an Otter at that time was $96,000, with their additional cameras and equipment, each of the Argentine aircraft cost $170,000. They were painted in a red overall colour scheme, with day-glo paint on the front of the engine cowling, the tail and wing tips. They certainly stood out on the snowy ramp at Downsview, which was of course the intention behind the high visibility colour scheme. They departed together for the long delivery flight south to Argentina, a flight of 7,850 miles.

The two Otters were assigned to the 1 Brigada Aerea, based at El Palomar. The aircraft and crews spent most of 1965 training and testing equipment in preparation for their Antarctic mission. This training was carried out on the Upsala Glacier in the Province of Santa Cruz on the mainland, an area similar to the Antarctic in terms of climate and topography. In November 1965 both Otters deployed to the Benjamin Matienzo Air Base, Antarctica where they joined the Grupo Aereo Antarctico 1. The Otters flew in a utility role, transporting personnel and cargo, including air-dropping supplies. P-12 had additional fuel tanks installed, which increased its endurance to thirteen hours. Unfortunately this aircraft was only in service a few months when it suffered an accident at the Benjamin Matienzo Air Base in early 1966 and was shipped back to El Palomar where all useable parts were salvaged and the remains broken up.

P-11 continued to give sterling service, and was very active in November 1966 on photographic sorties during a solar eclipse. In October 1967 the Otter returned to the mainland and participated in exercises in the Provinces of Chaco and Formosa in the north eastern part of the country, with 1 Brigada Aerea. It also conducted further exercises in the Upsala Glacier area in May 1968. It again returned to the Antarctic for the 1968/69 season. P-11 was declared surplus to requirements in July1971, having been replaced by the DHC-6 Twin Otter. Its camera equipment was removed and on 25th August 1972 the Otter was donated to the Fuerza Aerea Paraguaya (FAP), the Paraguayan Air Force, with which it adopted serial T-05. It was reportedly intended for use by the President of Paraguay for fishing trips, but in any event was attached to the “Transport and Training Air Group” (Grupo Aereo de Entrenamiento y Transporte/GAET) of the FAP, used for general transport tasks within Paraguay. It still retained the overall red/day-glo colour scheme in which it had been delivered, and was known in Paraguay as “El Caballero Rojo" (“The Red Gentleman”).

By the late 1970s, the cabin seats had been removed and it was in use for parachuting. In 1980, the aircraft was re-serialled 0209, when all FAP aircraft received four digit serials. In 1981, on take off from Nu-Guazu Air Force Base near Asuncion on a parachute sortie, it crashed. Although the cockpit section was badly damaged, the pilot and passengers survived. The damaged aircraft had the wings removed and was stored in a hangar at Nu-Guazu Air Base. There the Otter lay until 1991 when it was sold by auction to a local businessman for scrap. However, he must have retained it in one piece, as the Otter was later purchased by Mr Randy D'Aoust/Quality Aircraft Sales of St.Albert, near Edmonton, Alberta where it arrived in a crate early in 1997. The Otter was sold on to Vazar Aerospace, promoters of the Vazar Turbo Otter and Otter 447 arrived at the Aeroflite Industries facility at the Vancouver International Airport in July 1997, having been trucked there from Edmonton. The damage to the airframe was repaired.

In the event, the Otter was not rebuilt at that time, but was transported to Mr. Dara Wilder's farm at Aldergrove, BC (he is the principal of Vazar Aerospace) where it was stored. In November 2002 it was trucked to the facilities of Volant Technica at Portland, Oregon for engineering work on a new window configuration for the DHC-3. It was then returned to storage in the Vancouver area, awaiting rebuild. It was advertised for sale in October 2004 as a rebuild project. The advertisement noted that the aircraft had been stored since 1981 and had never been on floats. It went on: “We will build to your specification and have ready Spring 2005. Tell us what mods/engine/configuration you want and we will quote. Your choice of engine - Pratt, Garrett, Walter”. The Otter was advertised as having 5,900 hours on the airframe and after rebuild would be delivered with the 9,000 pound high gross weight kit installed, as well as BARON STOL kit, on wheels or floats. Other modification options included a 16 seat interior and window modification kit. After more than 20 years on the ground, Otter 447 was near to resuming its flying career.

*** LATEST UPDATE!***

Otter 447

January 1st, 2008. C-FDJD. Otter 447 was originally delivered to the Argentine Air Force in February 1965 for operation in the Antarctic and it served with the Fuerza Aerea Argentina with serial P-11 until August 1972 when it was donated to the Paraguayan Air Force, serial T-05. It was named “El Caballero Rojo” (The Red Gentleman) as it retained the all-red colour scheme from its days in the Antarctic. It was re-serialled 0209 and used for parachute work until an accident at Asuncion in 1981, after which it languished in a damaged state in a hangar at Nu-Guazu Air Base for many years. In 1991 it was sold for scrap but by good fortune it was purchased by Mr Randy D’Aoust/Quality Aircraft Sales of Edmonton, Alberta where it arrived in a crate early in 1997. It was sold to Vazar Aerospace and used for tests on a new window configuration before being sold to Recon Air of Geraldton, Ontario in February 2005 as C-FDJD, the first time this Otter had carried a Canadian registration. It was advertised for sale as a rebuilt Otter with low airframe time of only 5,900 hours, stored since 1981, with whatever engine the buyer specified.

The Otter was sold to 39649 Yukon Inc of Whitehorse, Yukon to whom it was registered C-GZCW on 18th January 2007. It was for operation by Black Sheep Aviation & Cattle Company, based at Whitehorse, who also operated Otter C-GMCW (108), a Texas Turbine conversion. Otter 447 C-GZCW was also converted as a Texas Turbine at Geraldton and in March 2007 was delivered to Whitehorse and entered service with Black Sheep Aviation & Cattle Company.

Tragically its career was very short, as it crashed and burned at Mayo Airport in the Yukon on 2nd June 2007, killing the pilot, the only occupant. It had only flown 240 hours since rebuild. At the time of writing the accident report has not been published but it appears that the Otter had just taken off from Mayo with a load of timber when it made an emergency return to the airfield and crashed on landing.

- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Tragic". A new "lease on life", but she "expires" prematurely, along with her "valiant" pilot.



CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes

OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #84" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".

This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................



***MYSTERY SOLVED!***

This is the cockpit of the Fairey "Swordfish", similar to the ones pilots Lieutenant Percy Gick and Sub-Lieutenant John Moffat flew and disabled "The Bismarck"! Mike wins the "sailboat fuel"!

Hey folks, click the title or the link below, "have a read", sign if you like, forward the link! Thanks for your time!

Cheers,

Steve

LINK - "Induct Reginald Joseph Leach into the Hockey Hall of Fame" Petition