Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
U.S. Army "Vet", served in the "National Guard", trained "missionary pilots", then "perished" during "civilian life", this Otter has a fine "service 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
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Otter 291
Otter 291 was delivered to the United States Army on 30th October 1958 with serial 58-1685 (tail number 81685). It was allocated to the 12th Aviation Company, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In August 1961 it flew north to Alaska when the Company was re-assigned there to join Yukon Command. 81685 was based at Fort Wainright, Fairbanks with the 12th Aviation Company and continued to fly with the Company until June 1967, when it went to the 568th Transportation Company, also based at Fort Wainright, to be prepared for service with the National Guard.
In January 1968, 81685 was assigned to the Alaska National Guard, based at Bethel. It was painted in a silver/red colour scheme with “ALAS-NG” on the tail. It flew in support of the 2nd Scout Battalion and operated on floats during the summer months and on wheel-skis in winter. It was joined at Bethel by 76131 (276) in June 1971, and in October 1971 both of these Otters flew south into retirement at the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Centre (MASDC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. 81685 was allocated inventory code UA002 and 76131 was allocated UA003. They were two of five US Army Otters to be placed into storage at MASDC.
81685's period of storage in the desert 'boneyard' was not long. In October 1972, together with 53315 (179), another of the Army Otters in storage, it was allocated to the School of Bible and Music, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vocational schools such as this were authorised to receive surplus military equipment. The School, which had recently opened an aviation section to train pilots and mechanics who would work in the field of missionary aviation, took full advantage of this entitlement, and received the two Otters and also four Beavers. These aircraft were flown from Davis-Monthan AFB to a small airfield at Fremont outside Grand Rapids, Michigan where they were civilianised and made ready for use by the School. 53315 was registered N432GR and 81685 was registered N433GR, the 'GR' of the registrations standing for Grand Rapids.
Unfortunately N432GR was damaged in a storm while at Fremont and it was decided not to repair it. It was trucked to Newaygo Airport outside of Grand Rapids, where the School's Aviation Division was based and over the following years, it was used for maintenance training and parts were taken from it to keep the other Otter flying. N433GR however was civilianised and entered service with the School, based at Newaygo Airfield and used for pilot training. Of the four Beavers which the School had received, two were used as ground instructional airframes and two were used for flying training, and were also in use to transport small music groups from the School around the country, even as far south as Florida. The Otter was considered too expensive for such a task and was only used for pilot training. Many of the pilots who trained at the School went on to become missionary pilots in under-developed countries. In 1978, due to rising fuel costs, the School decided to sell its Beavers and Otters, which were replaced with more economic Cessna 172s and 182s, better suited to the training role. Otter N433GR was sold to Yute Air Alaska and set off for its new base at Dillingham, Alaska. It joined the Yute Air Alaska fleet, which comprised several single Cessnas and Pipers, a Navajo, a Widgeon and an Evangel 4500.
Alas, the Otter's time with Yute Air Alaska was not long. It was destroyed in the course of an air taxi passenger flight near Togiak, Alaska on Sunday 3rd August 1980. N433GR had flown from Dillingham to Togiak, a forty minute flight, and was returning from Togiak with the pilot and nine passengers on board when the crash occurred. In a “continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions” type accident, the pilot flew into a valley but lost visual contact due to heavy fog. He endeavoured to reverse his course, but in the attempted climbing turn, flew into a hill. The Otter crashed and burned, killing one passenger and seriously injuring two others. Six others were treated in hospital for minor injuries. N433GR was totally destroyed.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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Unfortunately, when there is a case of "aircraft vs. mountain", the aircraft is always the "underdog". Unbelievable that people survived this crash, a testament to the Otter's "robustness"..........
- 81685 formerly of the Alaska Army Guard in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona August 1972 (Arnold Booy)
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 291
Otter 291 was delivered to the United States Army on 30th October 1958 with serial 58-1685 (tail number 81685). It was allocated to the 12th Aviation Company, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In August 1961 it flew north to Alaska when the Company was re-assigned there to join Yukon Command. 81685 was based at Fort Wainright, Fairbanks with the 12th Aviation Company and continued to fly with the Company until June 1967, when it went to the 568th Transportation Company, also based at Fort Wainright, to be prepared for service with the National Guard.
In January 1968, 81685 was assigned to the Alaska National Guard, based at Bethel. It was painted in a silver/red colour scheme with “ALAS-NG” on the tail. It flew in support of the 2nd Scout Battalion and operated on floats during the summer months and on wheel-skis in winter. It was joined at Bethel by 76131 (276) in June 1971, and in October 1971 both of these Otters flew south into retirement at the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Centre (MASDC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. 81685 was allocated inventory code UA002 and 76131 was allocated UA003. They were two of five US Army Otters to be placed into storage at MASDC.
81685's period of storage in the desert 'boneyard' was not long. In October 1972, together with 53315 (179), another of the Army Otters in storage, it was allocated to the School of Bible and Music, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vocational schools such as this were authorised to receive surplus military equipment. The School, which had recently opened an aviation section to train pilots and mechanics who would work in the field of missionary aviation, took full advantage of this entitlement, and received the two Otters and also four Beavers. These aircraft were flown from Davis-Monthan AFB to a small airfield at Fremont outside Grand Rapids, Michigan where they were civilianised and made ready for use by the School. 53315 was registered N432GR and 81685 was registered N433GR, the 'GR' of the registrations standing for Grand Rapids.
Unfortunately N432GR was damaged in a storm while at Fremont and it was decided not to repair it. It was trucked to Newaygo Airport outside of Grand Rapids, where the School's Aviation Division was based and over the following years, it was used for maintenance training and parts were taken from it to keep the other Otter flying. N433GR however was civilianised and entered service with the School, based at Newaygo Airfield and used for pilot training. Of the four Beavers which the School had received, two were used as ground instructional airframes and two were used for flying training, and were also in use to transport small music groups from the School around the country, even as far south as Florida. The Otter was considered too expensive for such a task and was only used for pilot training. Many of the pilots who trained at the School went on to become missionary pilots in under-developed countries. In 1978, due to rising fuel costs, the School decided to sell its Beavers and Otters, which were replaced with more economic Cessna 172s and 182s, better suited to the training role. Otter N433GR was sold to Yute Air Alaska and set off for its new base at Dillingham, Alaska. It joined the Yute Air Alaska fleet, which comprised several single Cessnas and Pipers, a Navajo, a Widgeon and an Evangel 4500.
Alas, the Otter's time with Yute Air Alaska was not long. It was destroyed in the course of an air taxi passenger flight near Togiak, Alaska on Sunday 3rd August 1980. N433GR had flown from Dillingham to Togiak, a forty minute flight, and was returning from Togiak with the pilot and nine passengers on board when the crash occurred. In a “continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions” type accident, the pilot flew into a valley but lost visual contact due to heavy fog. He endeavoured to reverse his course, but in the attempted climbing turn, flew into a hill. The Otter crashed and burned, killing one passenger and seriously injuring two others. Six others were treated in hospital for minor injuries. N433GR was totally destroyed.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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Unfortunately, when there is a case of "aircraft vs. mountain", the aircraft is always the "underdog". Unbelievable that people survived this crash, a testament to the Otter's "robustness"..........
- 81685 formerly of the Alaska Army Guard in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona August 1972 (Arnold Booy)
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #100" 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 French-built Bloch "MB 220"! Basically, France's "DC-3" comparison! "Sailboat fuel" doubles next week!
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY UNSOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the French-built Bloch "MB 220"! Basically, France's "DC-3" comparison! "Sailboat fuel" doubles next week!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
Here is an early Otter whose first "region" of employ was Norway, and saw time in the Antarctic during "Operation Penguin". She returned to Canada eventually, and continues to "fly the bush" to this day, in her original "persona"!
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 31
Otter number 31 was the last of the first batch of six of ten DHC-3 delivered to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, as explained in relation to Otter number 18. The batch of six were delivered in crates by ship and formally handed over on 2nd March 1954. The ship arrived in Oslo Harbour on 8th April '54, the Otters being assembled at Kjeller Air Base, Oslo. The Otter took serial 5331 and code O-AG. The Otter originally joined the Communications Flight at Jarlsberg Air Base in July '54, moving to Gardermoen Air Base in November '54. In May 1955 it joined the Communications Flight at Bodo Air Base in northern Norway.
Otter number 31 deployed to the Antarctic on “Operation Penguin” from October 1958 until March 1959, as explained in relation to Otter number 30. After its exploits in the Antarctic, it was reassembled at the Horten Marine Base and joined 7192 Stotteving (Support Flight) at Orland Air Base in May 1959. In June 1964 it joined 7193 Support Flight at Bodo Air Base. In January 1966 this unit was re-designated 719 Squadron and in December 1966 the Otter received its new squadron code XJ-U. In April 1967 the Otter moved south to Orland Air Base, joining C Flight of 720 Squadron and it continued to fly for that until 16th June '67 when its military career came to an end and it was struck off charge, having flown 4,177 hours in Air Force service. As with all the other Royal Norwegian Air Force Otters, it was handed over to Halle & Peterson, Oslo the DHC agents in Norway for disposal.
The Otter was sold to Wideroes Flyveselskap A/S to whom it was registered LN-LMM on 22nd June '67. For the next four years, the Otter flew on Wideroes scheduled services linking the remote communities of northern Norway, until replaced by the Twin Otter. LN-LMM was one of the last three Otters flown by Wideroes, all three of which were sold to Laurentian Air Services Ltd of Ottawa. LN-LMM became CF-APR, the other two being CF-APP (138, ex LN-BDD) and CF-APQ (201, ex LN-BIB). By this stage of its career, LN-LMM's total airframe time had risen to 8,150 hours. The Bill of Sale for all three aircraft is dated 19th October 1971. The three Otters were shipped back to Canada and re-assembled at Laurentian's Ottawa base.
All three Otters entered service with Laurentian Air Services, which was a large operator of the DHC-3. Over the years, it operated 14 Otters. Although based at Ottawa, most of the company's flying was done in Quebec and Labrador. CF-APR continued in service with Laurentian until sold in 1977 to Bearskin Lake Air Services Ltd of Big Trout Lake, Ontario, the registration by that stage having been changed to C-FAPR. It was to fly for this operator for the next eight years, one incident being recorded, on 19th December 1979 at the aircraft's base at Big Trout Lake, where the outside air temperature was a sharp -20C. This extract from the report: “Prior to commencing take-off from the ice strip, the pilot selected an abort point. On take-off the aircraft passed the selected point, but the pilot continued, thinking that the aircraft would soon lift off. The Otter did become airborne but the gear struck a pile of snow. The pilot continued and landed at a land strip to inspect the damage”.
In April 1988 the Otter was sold to Ignace Airways Ltd of Ignace, Ontario, being re-registered in August 1996 to Ignace Airways (1996) Ltd. C-FAPR supports fly-in fishing camps during the summer months.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 31
January 1st, 2008. C-FAPR. In service with Ignace Airways (1996) Ltd, Ignace, Ontario. R-1340.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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Lots of history in this aircraft, even flying for the fabled "Bearskin Airlines", started by my friend Henri Boulanger, along with his pals Johnny Heglund and Bert Cone........
C-FAPR of Bearskin Lake Air Service at Calgary February 1980 with signs of structural repairs to the undercarriage following its December 1979 incident (Anthony J. Hickey)
C-FAPR of Ignace Airways August 1995 (Rich Hulina)
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 31
Otter number 31 was the last of the first batch of six of ten DHC-3 delivered to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, as explained in relation to Otter number 18. The batch of six were delivered in crates by ship and formally handed over on 2nd March 1954. The ship arrived in Oslo Harbour on 8th April '54, the Otters being assembled at Kjeller Air Base, Oslo. The Otter took serial 5331 and code O-AG. The Otter originally joined the Communications Flight at Jarlsberg Air Base in July '54, moving to Gardermoen Air Base in November '54. In May 1955 it joined the Communications Flight at Bodo Air Base in northern Norway.
Otter number 31 deployed to the Antarctic on “Operation Penguin” from October 1958 until March 1959, as explained in relation to Otter number 30. After its exploits in the Antarctic, it was reassembled at the Horten Marine Base and joined 7192 Stotteving (Support Flight) at Orland Air Base in May 1959. In June 1964 it joined 7193 Support Flight at Bodo Air Base. In January 1966 this unit was re-designated 719 Squadron and in December 1966 the Otter received its new squadron code XJ-U. In April 1967 the Otter moved south to Orland Air Base, joining C Flight of 720 Squadron and it continued to fly for that until 16th June '67 when its military career came to an end and it was struck off charge, having flown 4,177 hours in Air Force service. As with all the other Royal Norwegian Air Force Otters, it was handed over to Halle & Peterson, Oslo the DHC agents in Norway for disposal.
The Otter was sold to Wideroes Flyveselskap A/S to whom it was registered LN-LMM on 22nd June '67. For the next four years, the Otter flew on Wideroes scheduled services linking the remote communities of northern Norway, until replaced by the Twin Otter. LN-LMM was one of the last three Otters flown by Wideroes, all three of which were sold to Laurentian Air Services Ltd of Ottawa. LN-LMM became CF-APR, the other two being CF-APP (138, ex LN-BDD) and CF-APQ (201, ex LN-BIB). By this stage of its career, LN-LMM's total airframe time had risen to 8,150 hours. The Bill of Sale for all three aircraft is dated 19th October 1971. The three Otters were shipped back to Canada and re-assembled at Laurentian's Ottawa base.
All three Otters entered service with Laurentian Air Services, which was a large operator of the DHC-3. Over the years, it operated 14 Otters. Although based at Ottawa, most of the company's flying was done in Quebec and Labrador. CF-APR continued in service with Laurentian until sold in 1977 to Bearskin Lake Air Services Ltd of Big Trout Lake, Ontario, the registration by that stage having been changed to C-FAPR. It was to fly for this operator for the next eight years, one incident being recorded, on 19th December 1979 at the aircraft's base at Big Trout Lake, where the outside air temperature was a sharp -20C. This extract from the report: “Prior to commencing take-off from the ice strip, the pilot selected an abort point. On take-off the aircraft passed the selected point, but the pilot continued, thinking that the aircraft would soon lift off. The Otter did become airborne but the gear struck a pile of snow. The pilot continued and landed at a land strip to inspect the damage”.
In April 1988 the Otter was sold to Ignace Airways Ltd of Ignace, Ontario, being re-registered in August 1996 to Ignace Airways (1996) Ltd. C-FAPR supports fly-in fishing camps during the summer months.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 31
January 1st, 2008. C-FAPR. In service with Ignace Airways (1996) Ltd, Ignace, Ontario. R-1340.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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Lots of history in this aircraft, even flying for the fabled "Bearskin Airlines", started by my friend Henri Boulanger, along with his pals Johnny Heglund and Bert Cone........
C-FAPR of Bearskin Lake Air Service at Calgary February 1980 with signs of structural repairs to the undercarriage following its December 1979 incident (Anthony J. Hickey)
C-FAPR of Ignace Airways August 1995 (Rich Hulina)
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Steve's Video Of The Day: Wright 3350 "Radial"!
I have stated before, during my "bush flying" career, that "farm kids" make the best pilots I have ever "checked out". This video bears testament to why! You can put a "Wright 3350" in a tractor!
"Yeeeee-haaaaa"!
VIDEO -
Wright 3350 "Radial"!"Yeeeee-haaaaa"!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #99" 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 Mitsubishi A6M2 "Reisen" ("Zero")! Bruce wins the "sailboat fuel", good job!
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY SOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Mitsubishi A6M2 "Reisen" ("Zero")! Bruce wins the "sailboat fuel", good job!
Steve's "Otters Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
Hudson Bay Air Transport Limited, a subsidiary of Hudson Bay Exploration and Development Company Limited, was the "air" arm of the company, and had a number of aircraft to support prospecting operations. Check out the first Otter they had, and the "first" Otter delivered to a customer...........
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 4
Otter number 4 was delivered to Hudson Bay Air Transport Ltd (HBAT) as CF-GBX on 11th November 1952, becoming the first Otter delivered to a customer. HBAT were based at Flin Flon, Manitoba. Formed in 1939, the company supported mineral exploration and development and during its 43 years of operation flew fifteen different aircraft, including six Otters, which proved ideal for the company's work. They could fly in personnel and equipment to establish exploration camps in remote northern areas, move the camps and keep them supplied.
CF-GBX was to faithfully serve HBAT for five and half years. It was based for a time at Jeff Lake in the Yukon, supporting the company's S-55 helicopters at a drill camp. In March 1957 it was joined by the company's second Otter CF-JOR (212). In June 1958 the two Otters were engaged in the Reed Lake area in central Manitoba, to the east of Flin Flon, moving drilling camps. On 6th June '58 an unfortunate accident befell GBX. As the pilot later recounted:
“I was engaged in moving camp supplies and drill from Camp 72 (Radar Lake) to Camp 84 (Foot Lake) that morning. I moved one load of groceries and one passenger. The second load comprised of boxes of groceries, containers of kitchen equipment and drill and camp equipment. I took off from Camp 72 at 1100 and docked at Camp 84 fifteen minutes later and tied up. I walked to the tent to write up my flight reports and my helper started to unload. He said there was something burning in the machine. I ran to the aircraft and had the pyrene extinguisher on the flames within seconds. However, the fumes and smoke became so thick I couldn't remain in the cabin. The fire took hold and the cabin started to burn”.
The fire was seen by the pilot of Otter JOR, who raised the alarm, but the fire continued to burn, causing very substantial damage to GBX. It transpired that gasoline had spilled from an out-board motor and had come into contact with a battery. That was the end of the Otter as far as HBAT were concerned - “total destruction by fire”. The wreckage was sold, purchased by Superior Airways Ltd of Fort William, Ontario. The new owners were not convinced of the aircraft's “total destruction” and set about rebuilding it. This took quite a time, seven years in fact, but on 12th May 1965 the Otter was registered to Superior Airways and entered service with them. For the next 14 years it flew for Superior Airways, based at Pickle Lake, Ontario.
In 1979 CF-GBX was sold and was registered to its new owners, Central Air Transport, of Sioux Lookout, Ontario on 17th September '79. Its time with Central Air Transport was not long, for on 24th May 1980 the Otter was destroyed in an accident. GBX had flown from its base at Sioux Lookout to Carling Lake, Ontario. It was taking off from Carling Lake with the pilot and seven passengers on board when engine failure occurred. The Otter ran up on the lake shore, and although all the occupants evacuated the aircraft, it was consumed by a post-impact fire.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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Pretty amazing, to recover from one fire, to "perish" 22 years later in another fire.
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 4
Otter number 4 was delivered to Hudson Bay Air Transport Ltd (HBAT) as CF-GBX on 11th November 1952, becoming the first Otter delivered to a customer. HBAT were based at Flin Flon, Manitoba. Formed in 1939, the company supported mineral exploration and development and during its 43 years of operation flew fifteen different aircraft, including six Otters, which proved ideal for the company's work. They could fly in personnel and equipment to establish exploration camps in remote northern areas, move the camps and keep them supplied.
CF-GBX was to faithfully serve HBAT for five and half years. It was based for a time at Jeff Lake in the Yukon, supporting the company's S-55 helicopters at a drill camp. In March 1957 it was joined by the company's second Otter CF-JOR (212). In June 1958 the two Otters were engaged in the Reed Lake area in central Manitoba, to the east of Flin Flon, moving drilling camps. On 6th June '58 an unfortunate accident befell GBX. As the pilot later recounted:
“I was engaged in moving camp supplies and drill from Camp 72 (Radar Lake) to Camp 84 (Foot Lake) that morning. I moved one load of groceries and one passenger. The second load comprised of boxes of groceries, containers of kitchen equipment and drill and camp equipment. I took off from Camp 72 at 1100 and docked at Camp 84 fifteen minutes later and tied up. I walked to the tent to write up my flight reports and my helper started to unload. He said there was something burning in the machine. I ran to the aircraft and had the pyrene extinguisher on the flames within seconds. However, the fumes and smoke became so thick I couldn't remain in the cabin. The fire took hold and the cabin started to burn”.
The fire was seen by the pilot of Otter JOR, who raised the alarm, but the fire continued to burn, causing very substantial damage to GBX. It transpired that gasoline had spilled from an out-board motor and had come into contact with a battery. That was the end of the Otter as far as HBAT were concerned - “total destruction by fire”. The wreckage was sold, purchased by Superior Airways Ltd of Fort William, Ontario. The new owners were not convinced of the aircraft's “total destruction” and set about rebuilding it. This took quite a time, seven years in fact, but on 12th May 1965 the Otter was registered to Superior Airways and entered service with them. For the next 14 years it flew for Superior Airways, based at Pickle Lake, Ontario.
In 1979 CF-GBX was sold and was registered to its new owners, Central Air Transport, of Sioux Lookout, Ontario on 17th September '79. Its time with Central Air Transport was not long, for on 24th May 1980 the Otter was destroyed in an accident. GBX had flown from its base at Sioux Lookout to Carling Lake, Ontario. It was taking off from Carling Lake with the pilot and seven passengers on board when engine failure occurred. The Otter ran up on the lake shore, and although all the occupants evacuated the aircraft, it was consumed by a post-impact fire.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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Pretty amazing, to recover from one fire, to "perish" 22 years later in another fire.
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #98" 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 HU-16 "Albatross"! Michael from "Oz" wins the "sailboat fuel"! Good job!
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY SOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Grumman HU-16 "Albatross"! Michael from "Oz" wins the "sailboat fuel"! Good job!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Steve's "Otters Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
Here is an Otter that flew Canada's "bush", and was then donated by the Canadian government to India. Apparently now it is on display at Delhi-Palam Air Base, India. I was just thinking.... "Too bad we couldn't get them to donate it back......"
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 55
Otter 55 was delivered to the RCAF on 30th November 1954 with serial 3688. It was delivered to No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton and put into storage as a reserve aircraft, returning to DHC at Downsview in January 1956 for incorporation of All Up Weight modifications. Upon completion of the work in July 1956 it took a trip to the Canadian National Exhibition Centre in Toronto, where it was on display as part of a recruiting campaign. It then went back to DHC who prepared it for assignment to 105 Communications & Rescue Flight at Namao Air Base, Alberta, which it joined later that month of July 1956.
With the unit it served alongside Otter 3691 and several C-47 Dakotas. During March 1957 it deployed north to Whitehorse in the Yukon together with C-47s 587 and 971 and took part in an extensive search for a missing Okanagan Helicopters Bell 47 CF-FDN, flying alongside the Whitehorse Station Flight Otter 3689. It is mentioned in the Unit's diary taking part in 'SAR Koessler' on 22nd September '57, searching for missing aircraft N3151C, alongside Otter 3691 and Dakotas 224 and 971, all of 105 C&R Flight. The two Otters were dispatched by Vancouver Rescue Co-Ordination Centre to carry out a track crawl along the route Bear Lake - King Mountain - Dease Lake. The aircraft was spotted on King Mountain Lake and the survivors at Dease Lake, from where they were evacuated by 3691.
During October 1957 the Alberta Department of Public Health requested an aircraft to take nurses to Loon Lake, where a whooping cough epidemic had broken out. Between 3rd and 10th October, Otter 3688 shuttled between Peace River, Seba Beach and Loon Lake with the nurses and serum. On 18th November '57 3688 became overdue on a flight from Namao to Horshoe Lake, but eventually arrived safely. It again experienced communications difficulties on 6th February '58 on a flight from Namao to Wainright. The next day it took part in 'SAR Hicks', the search for Cessna 195 CF-JVQ missing on a flight from Snowdrift, on the east side of Great Slave Lake to Campbell Lake, seventy miles northwest of Fort Reliance. The missing Cessna was located by Dakota 224 and Otter 3688 picked up the survivors and flew them to Yellowknife.
The following month, March 1958, 3688 left 105 C&R Flight and was flown to the Canadian Pacific Airlines depot at Lincoln Park, Calgary where it was stored as a reserve aircraft until October 1958, when it arrived at the Cold Lake Station Flight, Alberta on amphibious floats. It had a somewhat eventful training detail on 24th July 1959, sustaining three fairly heavy landings on water and a fourth on the runway. The fuselage was found to be buckled in an area recognised by the manufacturers as weak. The damage was repaired. 3688 continued serving the Cold Lake Station Flight until June 1962, when it went back to No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, into storage again. The following year it was one of five Otters selected by the Canadian government to be donated to India. In March 1963 the five were removed from storage, and sent to DHC at Downsview for packaging and shipment to India.
On arrival in India the Otter joined the Indian Air Force, with serial BM-1000. It served for the next 18 years until withdrawn from use in August 1981 and put on display at Delhi-Palam Air Base. It had served with 41 Squadron at Palam since 1976, coded C.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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"Yup", time to mount an expedition to return this Otter home, and put her "back into the air"!
- BM-1000 code C of 41 Squadron, Indian Air Force on approach to Delhi-Palam (Peter Steinemann/Skyline)
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
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Otter 55
Otter 55 was delivered to the RCAF on 30th November 1954 with serial 3688. It was delivered to No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton and put into storage as a reserve aircraft, returning to DHC at Downsview in January 1956 for incorporation of All Up Weight modifications. Upon completion of the work in July 1956 it took a trip to the Canadian National Exhibition Centre in Toronto, where it was on display as part of a recruiting campaign. It then went back to DHC who prepared it for assignment to 105 Communications & Rescue Flight at Namao Air Base, Alberta, which it joined later that month of July 1956.
With the unit it served alongside Otter 3691 and several C-47 Dakotas. During March 1957 it deployed north to Whitehorse in the Yukon together with C-47s 587 and 971 and took part in an extensive search for a missing Okanagan Helicopters Bell 47 CF-FDN, flying alongside the Whitehorse Station Flight Otter 3689. It is mentioned in the Unit's diary taking part in 'SAR Koessler' on 22nd September '57, searching for missing aircraft N3151C, alongside Otter 3691 and Dakotas 224 and 971, all of 105 C&R Flight. The two Otters were dispatched by Vancouver Rescue Co-Ordination Centre to carry out a track crawl along the route Bear Lake - King Mountain - Dease Lake. The aircraft was spotted on King Mountain Lake and the survivors at Dease Lake, from where they were evacuated by 3691.
During October 1957 the Alberta Department of Public Health requested an aircraft to take nurses to Loon Lake, where a whooping cough epidemic had broken out. Between 3rd and 10th October, Otter 3688 shuttled between Peace River, Seba Beach and Loon Lake with the nurses and serum. On 18th November '57 3688 became overdue on a flight from Namao to Horshoe Lake, but eventually arrived safely. It again experienced communications difficulties on 6th February '58 on a flight from Namao to Wainright. The next day it took part in 'SAR Hicks', the search for Cessna 195 CF-JVQ missing on a flight from Snowdrift, on the east side of Great Slave Lake to Campbell Lake, seventy miles northwest of Fort Reliance. The missing Cessna was located by Dakota 224 and Otter 3688 picked up the survivors and flew them to Yellowknife.
The following month, March 1958, 3688 left 105 C&R Flight and was flown to the Canadian Pacific Airlines depot at Lincoln Park, Calgary where it was stored as a reserve aircraft until October 1958, when it arrived at the Cold Lake Station Flight, Alberta on amphibious floats. It had a somewhat eventful training detail on 24th July 1959, sustaining three fairly heavy landings on water and a fourth on the runway. The fuselage was found to be buckled in an area recognised by the manufacturers as weak. The damage was repaired. 3688 continued serving the Cold Lake Station Flight until June 1962, when it went back to No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, into storage again. The following year it was one of five Otters selected by the Canadian government to be donated to India. In March 1963 the five were removed from storage, and sent to DHC at Downsview for packaging and shipment to India.
On arrival in India the Otter joined the Indian Air Force, with serial BM-1000. It served for the next 18 years until withdrawn from use in August 1981 and put on display at Delhi-Palam Air Base. It had served with 41 Squadron at Palam since 1976, coded C.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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"Yup", time to mount an expedition to return this Otter home, and put her "back into the air"!
- BM-1000 code C of 41 Squadron, Indian Air Force on approach to Delhi-Palam (Peter Steinemann/Skyline)
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
Thursday, March 05, 2009
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #97" 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 Vickers "Vimy"! Good old boys Alcock and Brown, two honourary "Newfies", made it across the Atlantic and "bellied-in" in a bog in Ireland! "Sailboat fuel" doubles next week!
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY UNSOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Vickers "Vimy"! Good old boys Alcock and Brown, two honourary "Newfies", made it across the Atlantic and "bellied-in" in a bog in Ireland! "Sailboat fuel" doubles next week!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Steve's "Otters Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
Just like another world famous "icon", the Canadian hockey player, the old Otter could survive just about any "incident", and with a little help from the "trainer" be "back in the game"! Check out this Otter, she had a few "scrapes" and was "traded" more times than Mike Sillinger, but still is active 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 218
Otter 218 was delivered to the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS) on 29th April 1957, registered CF-ODT. It was one of the large fleet of OPAS Otters, based at Sault Ste.Marie, serving the Ontario bush country. Its career with OPAS came to an end on 26th June 1961 when it was badly damaged in an accident at Dogtooth Lake, some twenty miles south east of Kenora, while water bombing a forest fire.
The pilot circled the fire, located on an island. He selected a suitable area to pick up water and flew downwind. At about 500 feet above ground, a medium turn to the left was made with more than normal power because of the wind conditions. Near the completion of the turn, the left wing and nose of the aircraft dropped. The pilot applied power and right rudder, but despite this corrective action the aircraft struck the water. The accident report concluded that “while approaching to land in a strong gusty wind condition, the pilot lost control of his aircraft which collided with trees and then struck the water in a nose down attitude”.
The pilot managed to get out as the aircraft sank and made his way to the shore. Subsequently an OPAS salvage crew working off a barge raised the Otter, salvaged what they could, including the wings, and allowed the fuselage to sink back into the lake. It would appear that the salvage rights were then sold, and a more determined effort managed to retrieve the fuselage from the lake. It was later noted at the Ontario Central Airlines hangar at Reddit, north of Kenora. In due course, the Otter was rebuilt, using another set of wings, and entered service with White River Air Services, still registered CF-ODT. The original wings which had been removed by the OPAS salvage team were returned to the base at Sault Ste.Marie where they were found to be only moderately damaged. They were repaired and put into storage. They were used many years later by the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in the rebuild of Otter C-FODU (369) at Sault Ste.Marie.
Otter ODT was registered to Sault Airways Ltd, White River, Ontario for the summer of 1974 but reverted to White River Air Services Ltd as C-FODT in 1975. It was repainted into the striking yellow, red and black colour scheme of Austin Airways, an associated company of White River Air Services, and flew for Austin Airways on amphibious floats. It continued to fly for this operator until sold to Pickle Lake Air Services Ltd of Pickle Lake, Ontario in July 1983, moving on to V.Kelner Airways Ltd also of Pickle Lake in March 1986. It headed east two years later, being registered to Waasheshkun Airways Ltd, Baie-du-Poste (Mistassini Lake) Quebec in July 1988. This was a Cree Indian owned airline serving northern Quebec, where ODT joined Otter C-FDIO (452) and Beaver C-GAXL. ODT continued to fly for Waasheshkun Airways until June 1994, when it was registered to Expeditair (1989) Inc based at Alma, Quebec, and then in September 1999 it joined Air Saguenay's large fleet of Otters, based at Lac St.Sebastien, Chicoutimi, Quebec.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 218
January 1st, 2008. C-FODT. Air Saguenay, Chicoutimi, Quebec. Texas Turbine.
- by Karl E. Hayes
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She now has a "stovepipe and fan" for an engine. "Hey", I bet there aren't too many Otters that can say they have been to the bottom of Dogtooth Lake....... "twice"!
- CF-ODT of White River Air Services at White River, Ontario September 1975
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 218
Otter 218 was delivered to the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS) on 29th April 1957, registered CF-ODT. It was one of the large fleet of OPAS Otters, based at Sault Ste.Marie, serving the Ontario bush country. Its career with OPAS came to an end on 26th June 1961 when it was badly damaged in an accident at Dogtooth Lake, some twenty miles south east of Kenora, while water bombing a forest fire.
The pilot circled the fire, located on an island. He selected a suitable area to pick up water and flew downwind. At about 500 feet above ground, a medium turn to the left was made with more than normal power because of the wind conditions. Near the completion of the turn, the left wing and nose of the aircraft dropped. The pilot applied power and right rudder, but despite this corrective action the aircraft struck the water. The accident report concluded that “while approaching to land in a strong gusty wind condition, the pilot lost control of his aircraft which collided with trees and then struck the water in a nose down attitude”.
The pilot managed to get out as the aircraft sank and made his way to the shore. Subsequently an OPAS salvage crew working off a barge raised the Otter, salvaged what they could, including the wings, and allowed the fuselage to sink back into the lake. It would appear that the salvage rights were then sold, and a more determined effort managed to retrieve the fuselage from the lake. It was later noted at the Ontario Central Airlines hangar at Reddit, north of Kenora. In due course, the Otter was rebuilt, using another set of wings, and entered service with White River Air Services, still registered CF-ODT. The original wings which had been removed by the OPAS salvage team were returned to the base at Sault Ste.Marie where they were found to be only moderately damaged. They were repaired and put into storage. They were used many years later by the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in the rebuild of Otter C-FODU (369) at Sault Ste.Marie.
Otter ODT was registered to Sault Airways Ltd, White River, Ontario for the summer of 1974 but reverted to White River Air Services Ltd as C-FODT in 1975. It was repainted into the striking yellow, red and black colour scheme of Austin Airways, an associated company of White River Air Services, and flew for Austin Airways on amphibious floats. It continued to fly for this operator until sold to Pickle Lake Air Services Ltd of Pickle Lake, Ontario in July 1983, moving on to V.Kelner Airways Ltd also of Pickle Lake in March 1986. It headed east two years later, being registered to Waasheshkun Airways Ltd, Baie-du-Poste (Mistassini Lake) Quebec in July 1988. This was a Cree Indian owned airline serving northern Quebec, where ODT joined Otter C-FDIO (452) and Beaver C-GAXL. ODT continued to fly for Waasheshkun Airways until June 1994, when it was registered to Expeditair (1989) Inc based at Alma, Quebec, and then in September 1999 it joined Air Saguenay's large fleet of Otters, based at Lac St.Sebastien, Chicoutimi, Quebec.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 218
January 1st, 2008. C-FODT. Air Saguenay, Chicoutimi, Quebec. Texas Turbine.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
She now has a "stovepipe and fan" for an engine. "Hey", I bet there aren't too many Otters that can say they have been to the bottom of Dogtooth Lake....... "twice"!
- CF-ODT of White River Air Services at White River, Ontario September 1975
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
