De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

The DHC- 2 Beaver is a light transport aircraft of the former Canadian aircraft manufacturer de Havilland Canada. From 1947 to 1967 over 1,600 were built. In 2008, the production of a turboprop version by Viking Air began, also in Canada.

History

The construction of the light transport aircraft de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver ( "Beaver " ) began in late 1946 on an invitation of the Canadian Forest Service, and then the first flight took place already on 16 August 1947.

A total of 1657 pieces to 1965 were built, of which 980 went alone piece as an L- 20A (later referred to as U -6A ) to the U.S. forces. Very soon, the Beaver was used as classic bush plane in over 50 countries, a robust, reliable transportation for up to 7 passengers or 900 kg of cargo. With the ability with wheels, floats, or skis to be equipped, and excellent STOL characteristics, the Beaver is extremely flexible. At present, there are still around 500 Beaver worldwide.

On 24 February 2006, the Canadian company Viking Air Bombardier Aerospace bought the rights to the DHC -2 and DHC other aircraft. Since Viking Air DHC -2T Turbo markets a Beaver, which is driven by a PT6A -34 turboprop engine.

Technical Description

General Description

The Beaver is a single engine, strutted high-wing monoplane of all-metal construction. The wing is zweiholmig and has a rectangular plan with 1.59 m continuous surface depth. Flaps and ailerons are designed as slotted flaps. The flaps are hydraulically extended and retracted. Together with the landing flaps and the ailerons are moved up to 15 degrees downward. As a NACA airfoil 64A416/4416 is inside and outside consistently used the V- position of 2 ° upwards. The hull is built in three different wiefolgt sections: front in the engine area as a steel tube truss with Dural planking in the cabin area as panels and space aluminum bulkhead framework, the tail boom is also made in semi- monocoque construction with Duralbeplankung. For freight transport, the seats in the cabin can be quickly expanded through a 1.2 m × 0.99 m wide side door can also be invited relatively bulky cargo.

Drive

Standard engine is the Pratt & Whitney R- 985SB3, an air-cooled nine-cylinder radial engine with 16.14 liters ( 985 cubic inches ) of displacement. The engine is fitted with a mechanical supercharger, and provides a starting power of 335 kW (450 hp). The engine can be started either with a direct-acting electric starter or an electric inertia starter with ability to use a hand crank. The motor drives a two-bladed constant- speed variable-pitch propeller 2D30 237 with a diameter of 2.59 m in all-metal version of the type Hamilton Standard.

Fuel system

The three individually switchable with a tank selector switch fuel tanks with 35, 35 and 25 US.liq.gal content (about 133l, 133 l and 95 l ) are located behind each other under the cabin floor. In addition, the Beaver for long-haul operations with 2 × 21.5 US.liq.gal (about 2 × 81 L) comprehensive wingtip tanks ( wing tip tanks) be equipped, whose contents can be transferred as needed by gravity in the front fuselage tank. Thus, a total fuel capacity of 95 and 138 US.liq.gal results without and with surface peak auxiliary tanks (about 360 or 522 l).

Suspension variants

The following chassis variants are possible:

  • A country in tailwheel landing gear assembly with 8.5 × 10 " main wheels, disc brakes and tailwheel angelenktem
  • An additional ashore chassis mounted ski ensemble, which allows from the cockpit to the extent or retract by means of a hydraulic hand pump the skis that either landings on snow, ice or even on plain background on the wheels are possible.
  • A pure seaplane variant with two floats, which are mounted with a Streben-/Verspannungssystem; this variant can carry only water landings and starts
  • An execution as amphibious aircraft, with floats as the pure seaplane; However extendable wheels are available in the floats to operate on land and water can.

The various outfits act by an increased air resistance or increased curb weight restrictive - compared to the country version - on airplane performance (see technical data table ).

Specifications

( Data sources :)

Military user

  • Royal Australian Air Force - 5 1955-1964
  • French Air Force
  • United States Army
  • United States Air Force
  • United States Navy
  • Army Air Corps
Shoulder wing Dihedral (aeronautics) UTC Aerospace Systems Gallon Argentina Chile Dominican Republic France Ghana Greece Cambodia New Zealand Oman Army Air Corps (United Kingdom) De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter Lockheed U-2 Cessna 310 Aero Commander 500 family Piper PA-23 Grumman HU-16 Albatross Cessna 185 Stinson L-5 Sentinel Beechcraft Bonanza Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker Dassault Falcon 20 De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
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