deHavilland DHC-2 Beaver Airplane
deHavilland DHC-2 Beaver airplane
The eHavilland DHC-2 Beaver represents one
of the most beloved airplanes ever designed. Produced by the
deHavilland Aircraft Corp of Canada between 1947 and 1961, the
Beaver was originally designed as a military utility aircraft for
the harsh operations of the Canadian Air Force in the north country
of Canada. Today, the deHavilland
DHC-2 Beaver remains the workhorse of Alaska and the
Canadian north with some 800 aircraft surviving of the original 1657
built. It is the workplane of choice in Alaska and Canada as it can
take off and land in less than 650 feet of rough track. Capable of
work in and out of extremely short rough airstrips, or commonly on
floats in remote water estuaries, the Beaver can carry extraordinary
loads into and out of the roughest most remote areas of the earth.
It's all metal construction and legendary Pratt & Whitney 985-14B
radial engine make it the aerial pickup truck of the north and truly
one of the great working planes every built. N323RS represents one
of the finest remaining examples of the
deHavilland DHC-2 Beaver.
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A 1952 model built for the Canadian military, it was featured in the film
MOTHER LODE
starring Charlton Heston and Kim Bassinger. While filming on
location in northern British Columbia, this aircraft was crashed on landing
on floats in a north country lake with the cameras rolling. The crash was
sufficiently spectacular that the film was revised to write the crash into
the story line. Subsequently, the aircraft was totally rebuilt from the
frame up and received a key modification in the process - the Baron STOL
(short take off and landing) kit. This modification, encompassing new wing
struts, a leading edge cuff, drooped wing tips, and wing fences, remarkably
improves the slow flight handling, takeoff and landing characteristics of
this already legendary airframe. We've flown this aircraft well under 40
knots without stalling it.The aircraft was transferred to the United States
registry in 1995 and had all new avionics installed in San Diego. With a
little over 500 hours since this total frame up restoration, N323RS has been
lovingly cared for without a night outside of the hangar and remains in the
pristine condition it was in when winning the EAA Sun'n'Fun award in 2000 at
Lakeland Florida. This aircraft was featured in the August 2002 issue of
AOPA Pilot Magazine and was the July photo aircraft in the 2004 AOPA
Calendar. It remains the Beaver example photo on the AOPA web site in the
photo gallery area. As such, N323RS represents one of the finest, award
winning examples of the DHC-2 Beaver in restored condition and has been
entirely a recreational plane for those few pilots who wanted the very best
Beaver in the world. For the past six years, N323RS has been part of the
private collection of Legend Airways of Colorado. It has just finished an
annual inspection, including the five year prop AD in August 2006. It has a
total aircraft time of 8427 hrs with 524 hours since the complete frame up
restoration and overhaul. It is currently available for inspection at Cape
Girardeau, Missouri (KCGI)
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deHavilland DHC-2 Beaver Airplane