WORKHORSE OF THE NORTH

In the image above are two DHC-2 Beavers parked next to each other. This is truly a remarkable and resilient, tamer of the frontiers of the world. I too had the privilege of logging up ten hours of flying time in a Beaver back in the day. 

The de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada introduced the DHC-2 Beaver aircraft in 1947. They produced about 1,600 planes before ending production in 1967. TheDHC 2was known by many as the “workhorse of the north”, this plane was instrumental in the development of many new frontiers around the world. 

At the end of World War II, de Havilland Canada (DHC) researched a new plane market. They sourced many pilots including WW I “Ace” and highly decorated Canadian pilot, CH “Punch” Dickins (1899 – 1995). who helped greatly, to compile that input, DHC began construction on a rough, tough, hard-working, Short Take-Off and Landing, (STOL), commercial “flying truck” which was aptly and affectionately named the “Beaver”. After the building of the prototype DHC-2 Beaver, it was rigorously tested in flight by WW II, Canadian flying Ace Russell Bannock (1919 – ) at an airfield, called Downsview in Ontario in August of 1947. With resounding ministerial approval, the very first production Beaver was delivered to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests) in April of 1948.