Warbird Information Exchange

Viking restarts Twin Otter production
By Kate Sarsfield

The heritage de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter is making a comeback after two decades, following a decision by Canada’s Viking Air, which owns the type certificates for seven de Havilland heritage aircraft, to restart production.

The first aircraft in this latest generation of Twin Otters dubbed the Series 400, is scheduled to enter service in late 2008.

Victoria, British Columbia-based Viking says it may restart production of the single engine DHC-3 Otter and possibly the DHC-2 Beaver following strong market demand for both aircraft.

“Our decision to restart production of the Twin Otter is based on three elements”, says David Curtis, president and chief executive of Viking Air. Having a large enough order book, board and shareholder approval and finally securing research and development (R&D) funding from the Canadian government. “We have two out of three so far and we are confident the federal government will approve the R&D funding the next 30 days,” says Curtis.

Viking had set a figure of around 12 orders as a benchmark to restarting production, Curtis says but the company has secured 27 orders and options already, half for seaplane configured Twin Otters. “Global demand for the [13-19 seat] Twin Otter has proved phenomenal,” Curtis says. “This is a very popular aircraft globally as there is no comparable model available on the market.”

A total of 844 turboprop Twin Otters were manufactured in DHC's Downsview, Toronto factory between 1965 and 1988, and more than 600 are in operation worldwide.

The Series 400 will have more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34/35 turboprops, advanced materials such as a modern composite nose section and a glass cockpit.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/04/02/212989/viking-restarts-twin-otter-production.html

I promise you there cannot be more Beavers than I can point a camera at.

August

Wasn't it a Twin Otter from Ken Borek Air that rescued that sick scientist from the south pole a few years back? They used it because the Herc couldn't handle the severe cold temperatures.

Also, makes me wonder if the Canadian government will look at the series 400 as a replacement for the Armed Forces CC-138 Twin Otters? There's been talk for some time about replacing them but there seems to be a problem finding a suitable replacement.

Dan are you flying a civy Herc or a DND one?

Brian.... ]

So the important question is, for those of us who have a fetish for the military versions, when will the price drop on the old ones enough to own one without paying B-25 prices for them?

It was a Twin Otter that went to the south pole. The guy flying it (Sean Loutitt - their chief pilot) did a fabulous job. Sean is kinda responsible for getting me in this business (we went to high school together) and that was one heck of a feat of aviating. Given the choice between an 'Otter and a Herc I'd have chosen the former too as that would have been some seriously cold trip and the DHC-6 shrugs stuff like that off pretty casually.

The Twin in this picture is one of the three that got surplused out of the CC-138 fleet. This one is CC-138 #806, now registered C-FTXQ. It was a nice airplane when I flew it, straight as a die and handled like it was on rails when you were slowed down and doing STOL work. It never had been "bent" like some of the other ones I'd flown.

Brian we have two Hercs, both L382-30's (the "Super Stretch" some call it). Basically they are C-130H-30's without paradoors. "Hercrat" who frequents this board is up north working right now and I think I go up to relieve him later this week.

Brian, on the note of the CF replacing their Twin Otters with new Twin Otters, why can't Viking make up some new Buffalos to replace the old ones. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can replace a Buffalo for Search and Rescue Operations in British Columbia. I'm kind of affraid of what we will be getting.