Twin Otter (Total: 9, Canadian: 9, Group 0)

de Havilland Canada Twin Otter

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (author photo)
de Havilland CC-138 Twin Otter (Serial No. 13804) with a new yellow paint scheme, at Namao, CFB Edmonton, Alberta

The de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, currently marketed as the Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter, is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, which produced the aircraft from 1965 to 1988; Viking Air purchased the type certificate, then restarted production in 2008. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL capabilities, twin turboprop engines and high rate of climb have made it a successful commuter passenger airliner as well as a cargo and medical evacuation aircraft. In addition, the Twin Otter has been popular with commercial skydiving operations, and is used by the United States Army Parachute Team and the United States Air Force's 98th Flying Training Squadron.

Development of the aircraft began in 1964, with the first flight on May 20, 1965. A twin-engine replacement for the single-engine DHC-3 Otter retaining DHC's renowned STOL qualities, its design features included double-slotted trailing-edge flaps and ailerons that work in unison with the flaps to boost STOL performance. The availability of the 550 shp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 turboprop in the early 1960s made the concept of a twin more feasible. A DHC-3 Otter with its piston engine replaced with two PT6A-4 engines had already flown in 1963. It had been extensively modified for STOL research. To bush operators, the improved reliability of turboprop power and the improved performance of a twin-engine configuration made it an immediately popular alternative to the piston-powered Otter which had been flying since 1951.

CC-138 variant: Twin-engine STOL utility transport, search and rescue aircraft for the Canadian Forces. Based on the Series 300 aircraft.

After Series 300 production ended, the remaining tooling was purchased by Viking Air of Victoria, British Columbia, which manufactures replacement parts for all of the out-of-production de Havilland Canada aircraft. On February 24, 2006, Viking purchased the type certificates from Bombardier Aerospace for all the out-of-production de Havilland Canada aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7). The ownership of the certificates gives Viking the exclusive right to manufacture new aircraft.

Twin Otters could be delivered directly from the factory with floats, skis, or tricycle landing gear fittings, making them adaptable bush planes for remote and northern areas. Areas including Canada and the United States, (specifically Alaska) had much of the demand. Many Twin Otters still serve in the far north, but they can also be found in Africa, Australia, Asia, Antarctica, and other regions where bush planes are the optimum means of travel. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications CC-138 Twin Otter - Kestrel Publications

Twin Otter 13801,

s/n 13801

as/n 13801

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 303

13801

Delivered to No. 424 (T&R) Squadron, CFB Trenton, in July 1971. Loaned to No. 426 Squadron for pilot training. UN duties in Kashmir from 12 January 1972, replacing 13808 after it was destroyed. Later with No. 440 Squadron. With No. 418 Squadron (Auxiliary) at CFB Namao, Alberta in 1976. In storage at Air Maintenance Development Unit at CFD Mountain View, Ontario when sold. To US civil register as N774A, with Scott Aircraft Services from December 1994. To Canadian register as C-FUGP, registered to 491549 Alberta Limited on 15 March 1995. Then to Exxon Mobile Canada as C-FMOL on 2 March 2001. To Provincial Air Lines on 28 November 2002. Sold to 171817 Canada Limited, operating as Arctic Sunwest Charters, from 16 June 2003. To North-Wright Airways on 14 November 2003. To Ashe Aircraft Enterprise on 6 October 2004.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-November-10 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1994-July-19 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139 | 2005 218

Twin Otter 13802,

s/n 13802

as/n 13802

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 304

13802

With No. 440 Squadron in April 1995. Still operational in 2006, with No. 440 Squadron at Yellowknife, NWT. On display ay Yellowknife airshow in February 2008.
Still Operational with No. 440 Sqn, 2019
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-July-29 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139

Twin Otter 13803,

s/n 13803

as/n 13803

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 305

13803

With No. 440 Sqn in April 1995. Still operational in 2019, with No. 440 Sqn at Yellowknife, NWT. On
10 March 2019, 138305 departed Tuktoyaktuk, NT with three scientists on board on a mission
requiring the a/c to land on unprepared sea ice surfaces. After completing an uneventful landing on
sea ice near Tuktoyaktuk for scientific research, the crew flew the aircraft to Pelly Island which is
located 50 miles to the West. The crew first completed two reconnaissance patterns above the sea
ice surface to assess wind and surface conditions. The crew then chose an into-wind approach for
landing on the sea ice, approximately 1 mile away from the island.The a/c touched down on a
smooth area of sea ice, but then bounced into the air after hitting an ice ridge perpendicular to the
aircraft's heading. The a/c impacted the base of a larger ice ridge once it settled back onto the sea
ice. The nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to a stop shortly thereafter.The a/c
suffered Cat "B" damage. To get it home, the RCAF contracted from a specialist company to airlift it
back to Inuvik. With Canadian Rangers providing protection from predators, RCAF technicians
removed all fuel, non-essential parts and equipment from the Twin Otter to prepare it for airlift. On
March 24, a Sikorsky S-61 heavy-lift helicopter contracted through Momentum Decisive Solutions
Inc. and sub-contractor VIH Helicopters successfully airlifted the Twin Otter back to Inuvik with a
specialized sling.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-August-05 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139

Twin Otter 13804,

s/n 13804

as/n 13804

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 306

13804

Delivered to No. 424 (T&R) Squadron, CFB Trenton. With No. 440 Squadron at CFB Yellowknife, NWT in April 1995. Still operational in 2006, with No. 440 Squadron at Yellowknife, NWT. To CFS Alert, Nunavut in April 2009 for exercises with Rangers. Nose gear collapsed during rough field training near Horn Lake, NWT on 23 August 2012, no injuries. Classified as Category D damage, probably repaired on site. On static display at Abbotsford air show in August 2015, with No. 440 Squadron.
Still operational in 2019, with No. 440 Sqn at Yellowknife, NWT.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-September-01 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139

Twin Otter 13805,

s/n 13805

as/n 13805

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 307

13805

With No. 440 Squadron, CFB Namao, Alberta, in 1970s. Used to drop trainee SARtechs of Course No. 15 at Entrance, Alberta in 1976. Still with this unit in April 1995. Still operational in 2006, with No. 440 Squadron at Yellowknife, NWT. Visited Ellsemere Island, Nunavit, in April 2008. To CFS Alert, Nunavut in April 2009 for exercises with Rangers. To Kelowna Flightcraft for Twin Otter Avionics Life Extension Project (TALE), avionics upgrade, returned to Yellowknife on 4 June 2012. This was the first aircraft upgraded, whole fleet will be done by late 2013. Still operational in 2019, with No. 440 Sqn at Yellowknife, NWT.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-September-09 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139

Twin Otter 13806,

s/n 13806

as/n 13806

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 308

13806

Operated by No. 440 Squadron at CFB Namao, Alberta. Withdrawn from use in August 1994. In storage at Air Maintenance Development Unit at CFD Mountain View, Ontario when sold. To US register as N776A, registered to Scott Aircraft Service in December 1994. Later to Canadian register as C-FTXQ. Registered to Beau del Leasing on 18 January 1995. To Ptarmigan Airways on 10 February 1995. To Bradley Air Services in January 1997. To Arctic Sunwest Charters on 17 July 2001. Still there in 2003.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-September-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1994-July-19 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139 | 2005 218

Twin Otter 13807,

s/n 13807

as/n 13807

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 309

13807

With No. 440 Squadron at CFB Namao, Alberta. Used by crew from reserve unit No. 418 Squadron at time of crash. Was searching for another SAR aircraft (civilian) that had gone down looking for an overdue light plane. The aircraft flew into the side of a mountain, killing all on board: pilot Capt. E.M. "Ted" Kates, co-pilot Capt. D. Wayne Plumtree and 6 observers, including Sgt. B. Burkitt. According to official accident report, the crash was caused by a freak optical illusion. Color of rocks in mountain combined with sun angle at the time of the crash to make a large ledge impossible to see. Crash location 74 kilometres (46.3 miles) west of Calgary, Alberta.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-September-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1987-May-05 Struck off Strength Struck off after being destroyed in crash on 14 June 1986, see comments. 2019-08-20
1986-June-14 KIFA RCAF Sergeant Brian Grant Burkitt CD 2023-06-28
1986-June-14 KIFA RCAF Captain Edward Maxwell Kates 2020-09-16
1986-June-14 KIFA RCAF Captain Donald Wayne Plumbtree CD 2023-06-23
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139

Twin Otter 13808,

s/n 13808

as/n 13808

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 310

13808

First flight in June 1971. Delivered to No. 424 (T&R) Squadron, CFB Trenton. Used for initial flight crew training at Trenton, with DHC instructor Don Rogers. Ferried from Trenton to Pakistan on 24 July to 9 August 1971, via Frobisher, Greenland, Iceland, UK, Lahr, Rome, Athens, Beirut, Bahrein, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Srinagar. Commenced UN operations on 11 August 1971. Operated in Pakistan for UNMOGIP (UN Military Observer Group in Pakistan), in UN colours but still displaying CF serial number. Destroyed on ground, by bomb from Indian AF Hunter of No. 20 Squadron, IAF at Islamabad-Chaklala Air Base in Pakistan on 5 December 1971. No casualties reported. Several other UN and civil aircraft destroyed in this raid.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1971-July-08 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1972-January-12 Struck off Strength Struck off after being destroyed on 5 December 1971, see comments 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139

Twin Otter 13809,

s/n 13809

as/n 13809

m/d DHC-6 Series 300

c/n 382

13809

Purchased as replacement for 13808 , using insurance money from the UN. With No. 440 Squadron at CFB Namao, Alberta. Leased to RCMP, through Inter-Cay Financial and Investment Inc. of Toronto, from 13 May 1994. Operated in overall white finish, carried CF serial number and registration C-FSLR. Reportedly used in anti-drug surveillance flights. Declared surplus on 19 July 1994. To KSS Aviation of Papua New Guinea as P2-KSK by December 1994. To US register as N677A, registered to Scott Aircraft Services same month. To Canadian register as C-FUGT. To Ashe Aircraft Enterprises on 15 March 1995. To Bradley Air Services on 16 March 1995. Operated by First Air for Bradley Air Services on 29 January 1999, based at Ottawa, Ontario. To Unaalik Aviation on 7 June 2002. To Ken Borek Air on 25 October 2004. Sold to Maldivian Air Taxi in December 2004, registered as 8Q-MAR. Ferried to Maldives 14 and 15 November 2004.
last update: 2024-December-25
   1973-November-07 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1994-July-19 Struck off Strength Struck off, sold. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 2005 139 | 2005 218