Post by flyboy on Mar 10, 2019 9:24:48 GMT
The deHavilland Beaver.
Launched by deHavilland in 1947 the Beaver was designed as a rugged bush plane capable of carrying six passengers and/or freight into unprepared landing strips whenever and wherever required. Typically powered by a single 450 hp Pratt and Whitney Wasp Junior radial engine this metal, high wing, STOL aircraft can still be found in use today, particularly in the wilds of North America and Canada and has seen many modifications throughout it's years of service.
In April 1948 the first production aircraft was delivered to the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests and since then the type has seen service including private and company use as well as with the military throughout the world. Today the aircraft can be seen flying with a conventional undercarriage or with large bush tyres, floats, skis and more recently powered by a turbo-prop engine. All a far cry from when it operated at Blackbushe between 1946 and 1960, although I recall seeing British Army Air Corps Beaver AL.Mk.1's on the circuit at Blackbushe being followed by long plumes of snow as the pilots practised winter operations with skis during the '60's.
Following the end of WWII the deHavilland management team had seen that there would be a downturn in military orders in the post-war period and decided to concentrate on the civilian market. Having undertaken extensive market research within the public sector and collected much data from pilots to see what they would ideally like from a newly produced aircraft type it soon became evident that the proposed design should embody many of the qualities that would be found in the later produced Beaver.
It was in 1947 that the deHavilland Aircraft Company of Canada started production of the DHC-2 Beaver. With 1,600 aircraft produced before 1967 when production ceased the aircraft had made it's first flight on 16th August 1947. In addition to it's use by civilian operators the aircraft was adopted by armed forces world wide and was mainly used in the utility transport role. The United States Army purchased several hundred aircraft with a number operated from bases in Europe and some of these were seen on occasions visiting Blackbushe.
Design:
Featuring a high wing with bracing struts and slotted flaps, with drooping ailerons which acted as additional flaps for a short take-off run the Beaver was designed with outback bush operations in mind. Coupled with this the Beaver has a sturdy tail wheeled undercarriage featuring main gear 'nutcracker' shock absorbers which were hinged with rubber inserts between the fuselage and main undercarriage leg. The aircraft featured a main cabin door and a crew door on each side of the cockpit. With the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-985 -AN-14B engine giving plenty of power the design proved very popular with operators although lack of speed did cause concerns. However the aircraft had been designed for bush operations and not for speed - a task it handled admirably.
Variants:
Beaver 1 Single engined STOL transport aircraft.
Beaver AL Mk1 STOL version for the British Army.
Beaver L-20A STOL version for the US Military. Later re-designated L-20.
Beaver L-20B Similar to L-20A but with minor equipment changes. 6 to US Army. Re-designated U-6B.
Wipaire Super Beaver Conversion of surplas US Army and USAF L-20 Beavers.
Wipaire Boss Turbo-Beaver Turbo conversion with PT-6 engine retaining curved lower fin.
Turbo Beaver III Re-engined with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 or -20 turbo prop engine.
N.B Other conversions were carried out by the following companies;
Airtech Canada, Volpar and Viking (who on February 24th 2006 purchased all the type certificates).
Specification/Characteristics DHC-2:
Crew 1
Capacity 6 passengers 2,100lb (953kg).
Length 30' 3'' (9.22m)
Wingspan 48' 0'' (14.63m)
Height 9' 0' (2.74m)
Weight Empty 3,000lb (1,361kg)
Weight Gross 5,100lb (2,313kg)
Power 1xPratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine 450hp (336kW)
Speed Max 158mph (255km/h)
Cruise 143mph (230km/h)
Range 455miles (732km)
Ceiling 18,000' (5,486m)
Rate of Climb 1020ft/min (5.2m/s)
Known Visitors:
Reg Type c/n Operator Date Noted
51-16515 DHC L-20 300 United States Air Force 00.9.54,7.9.54,10.9.55.
51-16521 --..-- 305 --..-- 6.9.55.
52-6137 --..-- 528 --..-- 6.9.55-8.9.55,4.9.56.
52-6138 --..-- 529 --..-- 20th SOS Woodbridge 4.8.58.
52-6139 --..-- 530 --..-- ------------------------- 7.9.54.
52-6140 --..-- 533 --..-- ------------------------- 21.5.56.
52-6146 --..-- 540 --..-- ------------------------- 5.9.56-6.9.56,4.9.57.
53-7908 --..-- 716 United States Army ------------------------ 3.1.59,11.1.59.
53-7909 --..-- 717? --..-- -- 160th CP ----------- 30.3.58.
54-1737 --..-- 892 --..-- ---MAAG Germany----- 00.00.56.
55-2576 --..-- 1242 --..-- --------------------------- 25.5.60.
56-0381 --..-- 1094 --..-- --------------------------- 2.8.59.
56-0382 --..-- 1095 --..-- --------------------------- 3.11.57,18.11.57,24.11.57>
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --------------------------- 9.6.58.
56-0383 --..-- 1096 --..-- --------------------------- 6.8.58,10.8.58,8.3.59.
56-0384 --..-- 1097 --..-- --------------------------- 00.4.58,3.5.58.
56-0397 --..-- 1133 --..-- --------------------------- 18.7.58,9.12.58,8.3.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ------130th CP----------- 1.11.58.
56-0405 --..-- 1149 --..-- --------------------------- 11.1.59.
56-0406 --..-- 1150 --..-- --------------------------- 20.12.58.
56-0416 --..-- 1171 --..-- --------------------------- 4.7.59,7.10.59.
56-4166 --..-- ? --..-- --------------------------- 4.10.59.
56-4401 --..-- 1104 --..-- --------------------------- 8.4.58.
56-4411 --..-- 1130 --..-- --------------------------- 00.00.58.
56-4416 --..-- 1140 --..-- --------------------------- 3.10.59.
56-4422 --..-- 1152 --..-- -- 3rd Spearhead Sqn.-- 16.1.60.
56-4423 --..-- 1153 --..-- -- --..-- --..-- --5.12.59.
57-2574 --..-- 1235 --..-- --------------------------- 11.4.60.
57-2576 --..-- 1237 --..-- --------------------------- 21.5.60.
57-6147 --..-- ? --..-- --------------------------- 24.3.60.
58-2030 --..-- 1362 --..-- --------------------------- 1.3.59.
Credits:
Wikipedia
DHC-2.com
rj For use of his extensive records.
The enthusiasts for recording the movements.
pb for supply of the photographs.
complete JSM 11.3.2019.
Launched by deHavilland in 1947 the Beaver was designed as a rugged bush plane capable of carrying six passengers and/or freight into unprepared landing strips whenever and wherever required. Typically powered by a single 450 hp Pratt and Whitney Wasp Junior radial engine this metal, high wing, STOL aircraft can still be found in use today, particularly in the wilds of North America and Canada and has seen many modifications throughout it's years of service.
In April 1948 the first production aircraft was delivered to the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests and since then the type has seen service including private and company use as well as with the military throughout the world. Today the aircraft can be seen flying with a conventional undercarriage or with large bush tyres, floats, skis and more recently powered by a turbo-prop engine. All a far cry from when it operated at Blackbushe between 1946 and 1960, although I recall seeing British Army Air Corps Beaver AL.Mk.1's on the circuit at Blackbushe being followed by long plumes of snow as the pilots practised winter operations with skis during the '60's.
Following the end of WWII the deHavilland management team had seen that there would be a downturn in military orders in the post-war period and decided to concentrate on the civilian market. Having undertaken extensive market research within the public sector and collected much data from pilots to see what they would ideally like from a newly produced aircraft type it soon became evident that the proposed design should embody many of the qualities that would be found in the later produced Beaver.
It was in 1947 that the deHavilland Aircraft Company of Canada started production of the DHC-2 Beaver. With 1,600 aircraft produced before 1967 when production ceased the aircraft had made it's first flight on 16th August 1947. In addition to it's use by civilian operators the aircraft was adopted by armed forces world wide and was mainly used in the utility transport role. The United States Army purchased several hundred aircraft with a number operated from bases in Europe and some of these were seen on occasions visiting Blackbushe.
Design:
Featuring a high wing with bracing struts and slotted flaps, with drooping ailerons which acted as additional flaps for a short take-off run the Beaver was designed with outback bush operations in mind. Coupled with this the Beaver has a sturdy tail wheeled undercarriage featuring main gear 'nutcracker' shock absorbers which were hinged with rubber inserts between the fuselage and main undercarriage leg. The aircraft featured a main cabin door and a crew door on each side of the cockpit. With the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-985 -AN-14B engine giving plenty of power the design proved very popular with operators although lack of speed did cause concerns. However the aircraft had been designed for bush operations and not for speed - a task it handled admirably.
Variants:
Beaver 1 Single engined STOL transport aircraft.
Beaver AL Mk1 STOL version for the British Army.
Beaver L-20A STOL version for the US Military. Later re-designated L-20.
Beaver L-20B Similar to L-20A but with minor equipment changes. 6 to US Army. Re-designated U-6B.
Wipaire Super Beaver Conversion of surplas US Army and USAF L-20 Beavers.
Wipaire Boss Turbo-Beaver Turbo conversion with PT-6 engine retaining curved lower fin.
Turbo Beaver III Re-engined with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 or -20 turbo prop engine.
N.B Other conversions were carried out by the following companies;
Airtech Canada, Volpar and Viking (who on February 24th 2006 purchased all the type certificates).
Specification/Characteristics DHC-2:
Crew 1
Capacity 6 passengers 2,100lb (953kg).
Length 30' 3'' (9.22m)
Wingspan 48' 0'' (14.63m)
Height 9' 0' (2.74m)
Weight Empty 3,000lb (1,361kg)
Weight Gross 5,100lb (2,313kg)
Power 1xPratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine 450hp (336kW)
Speed Max 158mph (255km/h)
Cruise 143mph (230km/h)
Range 455miles (732km)
Ceiling 18,000' (5,486m)
Rate of Climb 1020ft/min (5.2m/s)
Known Visitors:
Reg Type c/n Operator Date Noted
51-16515 DHC L-20 300 United States Air Force 00.9.54,7.9.54,10.9.55.
51-16521 --..-- 305 --..-- 6.9.55.
52-6137 --..-- 528 --..-- 6.9.55-8.9.55,4.9.56.
52-6138 --..-- 529 --..-- 20th SOS Woodbridge 4.8.58.
52-6139 --..-- 530 --..-- ------------------------- 7.9.54.
52-6140 --..-- 533 --..-- ------------------------- 21.5.56.
52-6146 --..-- 540 --..-- ------------------------- 5.9.56-6.9.56,4.9.57.
53-7908 --..-- 716 United States Army ------------------------ 3.1.59,11.1.59.
53-7909 --..-- 717? --..-- -- 160th CP ----------- 30.3.58.
54-1737 --..-- 892 --..-- ---MAAG Germany----- 00.00.56.
55-2576 --..-- 1242 --..-- --------------------------- 25.5.60.
56-0381 --..-- 1094 --..-- --------------------------- 2.8.59.
56-0382 --..-- 1095 --..-- --------------------------- 3.11.57,18.11.57,24.11.57>
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --------------------------- 9.6.58.
56-0383 --..-- 1096 --..-- --------------------------- 6.8.58,10.8.58,8.3.59.
56-0384 --..-- 1097 --..-- --------------------------- 00.4.58,3.5.58.
56-0397 --..-- 1133 --..-- --------------------------- 18.7.58,9.12.58,8.3.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ------130th CP----------- 1.11.58.
56-0405 --..-- 1149 --..-- --------------------------- 11.1.59.
56-0406 --..-- 1150 --..-- --------------------------- 20.12.58.
56-0416 --..-- 1171 --..-- --------------------------- 4.7.59,7.10.59.
56-4166 --..-- ? --..-- --------------------------- 4.10.59.
56-4401 --..-- 1104 --..-- --------------------------- 8.4.58.
56-4411 --..-- 1130 --..-- --------------------------- 00.00.58.
56-4416 --..-- 1140 --..-- --------------------------- 3.10.59.
56-4422 --..-- 1152 --..-- -- 3rd Spearhead Sqn.-- 16.1.60.
56-4423 --..-- 1153 --..-- -- --..-- --..-- --5.12.59.
57-2574 --..-- 1235 --..-- --------------------------- 11.4.60.
57-2576 --..-- 1237 --..-- --------------------------- 21.5.60.
57-6147 --..-- ? --..-- --------------------------- 24.3.60.
58-2030 --..-- 1362 --..-- --------------------------- 1.3.59.
Credits:
Wikipedia
DHC-2.com
rj For use of his extensive records.
The enthusiasts for recording the movements.
pb for supply of the photographs.
complete JSM 11.3.2019.