I've arrived to a new base a few days ago, next to the field, some aircraft are either waiting to reborn or to become wreckage from the past.
We went to get a closer look of this Canadian piece of engineering, aircraft which has been THE work horse of mineral prospection years in Canada, and spread his reputation all around the world.
The King Beaver
Being design after the successful Beaver introduced in 1948, the Otter has been designed to become the real ''1 ton truck'' aircraft for short take off and landing capabilities. In 1952 Dehavilland received their certification for the Otter, the production start shortly after with a total of 466 aircraft produced from 1953 to 1967.
The aircraft was so good at delivering huge payload to off-strip location, army around the world quickly showed interested in this model. United States Army soon became the largest operator of the U-1A Otter with 184 aircraft delivered to them. Australia, Canada and India found a military use for the Otter at that time.
Over time variant conversion has been approved with Pt6a-27 and -34 turbine, and like on this one a PZL Kalisz ASz-62IR giving the Otter A 1000 shaft horsepower right on the nose. The only concern about the 1000hp is the 15 to 25 imperial gallons of oil you have to keep in to make it running.
