de Havilland Otter - Lake Tarawera - New Zealand

[@treatch3]

Great Canadian bush plane. Right’s have been bought by Viking Air in British Columbia and they are building new Twin Otters.

[@charlie-obrien]

What a wonderful video. I had the pleasure of taking a flight in this very float plane with Capt. Becky back in 2014. The Otter is a real beauty with a great history. Built in Canada in 1958 used there for years. Then sold, disassembled and shipped to NZ sometime in the 70's. When I was there it flew off of Lake Rotorura and was operated by Volcanic Air Safaris. What a great piece of flight history and the views of NZs northern volcanos were amazing.

[@waterbourne9282]

Because of that radial I always assumed it was a Beaver too. Good to know it's an Otter now. It sure sounds great, will likely see it today.

[@AhnkoCheeOutdoors]

WOW What a beauty! I had a Canadian friend who's family owned a remote seasonal fishing camp in northern Quebec, fly in only, and they owned a DeHavilland Otter to fly clients in.

[@johnmorrison3555]

I love the sound of those radial engines. Nice video.

[@martijndeheer2690]

Today (23/12/2018) i saw this same plane, and she is still flying scenic flights in New Zealand. What a lovely machine! Specially the sound of the engine is one of the best!

[@alainrobillard4300]

The Harley-Davidson of the bush

[@pgor4339]

Wow - I am glad to see an old friend semi-retired in the warm climate of Northern New Zealand. I first met ZK-VAS in 1976. She, and six other sister aircraft, were recently acquired from the Canadian Royal Air Force surplus storage. Me - I was a junior AME (Canada’s equivalent to New Zealand LAME) with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) - Air Services. At that time, I only knew VAS and her sisters as Work-Order numbers. The OMNR operates throughout Ontario with its main hangar in Sault Ste. Marie. Here the maintenance team was tasked with converting old Air Force Otters to civilian standards; and installing the special mods for the OMNR's forest fire fighting water bombers. First, we stripped all the Air Force's avionics and systems. Then, we repaired and/or replaced the structure and existing systems. Afterwards, we configured the aircraft for floats, and installed the electric driven hydraulic system, which operated the water bombing system; all this with a modern avionics system (modern for the 1970’s). In 1977, I was assigned to an OMNR base in Kenora, Ontario. Shortly after C-GOFA (the maiden name for ZK-VAS) was assigned to the base. While in Kenora (located on Lake of the Woods), we operated off the water in the summer (May to Oct). In the winter we operated off the ice (Dec to March) with wheel/skis. In the summer my task was to maintain and service the aircraft to ensure it was always ready for forest fighting or general transportation. In the winter months OFA was used for government transportation and aerial surveys. My winter tasks were to ensure that the aircraft was maintained. In addition, after the pilot returned, I would put the aircraft to bed. This involved: running the engine and diluting the oil with fuel to ensure the oil would be thin in the morning; installing the engine covers and heaters; and installing the wing covers to keep the frost off the wings. In the morning, I would have to pre-heat the engines using a kerosene heater with ducts into the augmenter tubes; remove and store the wing and engine covers; then run the engine to burn off the fuel-dilution in the oil. If the flight was cancelled, I would have to put it back to bed. In 1981, I relocated to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Here the assigned Otter was C-GOFG, along with a Turbo Beaver and a Twin Otter, all on floats in the summer. Shortly afterwards OFA replaced OFG - we were back together. In the 1990’s I left the OMNR, however, I remember all the great aircraft I worked with. C-GOFA loved the North and small towns. I am glad to see her still in the North (of New Zealand) operating on floats from a small town. P G

[@johnchristie1948]

What a great post - thank you so much - great! John

[@pgor4339]

@@johnchristie1948 Thanks Pat

[@carlsenden8750]

Great vid and a superb machine. Thanks for sharing👍

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Great Photography

[@muzikhed]

Nice video, beautiful plane.

[@ncscapture1417]

Nice video of this old DHC-3, It's really nice to see these old planes.

[@johnchristie1948]

Thanks - she was excellent!!

[@dashcroft1892]

Beavers and Otters - best of the best

[@mariwayne3148]

Love the audio on takeoff - thank you! What a huge wingspan

[@SeniorHonky6]

That looks like a DHC-2 beaver to me… hmm, is this before they changed the prop and engine holdster? Or not, i can be completly wrong…

[@charlie-obrien]

The Beaver is a similar but smaller personal aircraft. The DHC-3 Otter is full sized commercial float plane. This one seated about 9 of us and I was the lucky one sitting in the co pilots seat.

[@SeniorHonky6]

@@charlie-obrien Ah, yeah after i posted this comment i realized that this was a Piston otter lol. Im used to Turbine otters because my dad works on them along with turbine beaver Most of the time.

[@smileysteam]

Serendipity moment, when you least expect it. Floats and round engines....the way it was meant to be, except maybe the beaver turbo conversion....all hail the DHC 2 :-)

[@rickeykeep4925]

Pride of Canada.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Every time I see one or a Beaver or a Catalina I want to go flying in one. I can dream. It's at the top of my get rich list.

[@Luko007]

The ultimate canadian bush machine

[@johnchristie1948]

I am glad you all like this aircraft - I was gobsmacked on the day - she just turned up! The pilot was very laid back.

[@alainrobillard4300]

Once I was on the shore of Lac-Sébastien, Québec, near the base of Air Saguenay, a bush airline. And I saw that Otter preparing for take-off. Even if it was so loaded that the floats barely emerged above the water, that beast took-off in only half the length normally needed by a Cessna. I was deeply impressed.

[@davemacmurchie6982]

@@alainrobillard4300 I've heard it said of Beavers "If it will float, it will fly" and I'm sure it's true of Otters as well. A rampie once told me about a situation involving a Beaver on amphibious floats that was loaded up on land and then sank on coming off the step after arrival on water. Could be apocryphal, but lots of people would believe it.

[@stewartcampbell7794]

Yea-Haw ! Back - in - the - Day !!! YYZ , Mohawk-Planker ...[ need's a Turbine ] . Thank's 4 the Memory !

[@johnchristie3984]

Thanks Stewart, She was beautiful!!!!! Just came out of nowhere!!

[@stewartcampbell7794]

@@johnchristie3984 5 by 5 & A- OK !

[@Avidcomp]

That is a beautiful thing.

[@jeroenjansen2709]

Did he close his door properly before he took off?

[@johnchristie3984]

Probably!! :-)

[@Talasas]

Pre-takeoff checklists include securing the doors.

[@newzealandhoris4208]

good aircraft

[@Nerflover10097]

great video! love how the pilot's barefoot

[@something7239]

Do these operate commercially in New Zealand? Or is this privately owned?

[@charlie-obrien]

Scenic tours given off of Lake Rotorura. 2 1/2 hour drive from Auckland.

[@terryboyd341]

Funny thing i saw that plane sitting at the lakefront at rotorua

[@johnchristie1948]

No idea if re-engined ( I am sure you could research that) - she is lovely!! She just came out of the blue!!

[@darrenbyrne4622]

Is this stil aroung here in new Zealand ?

[@BetterAircraftFabric]

This is for 110% sure the normal, original engine installation, it is not the PZL 995hp radial engine. There was also an aftermarket STC deal to use a ORENDA liquid cooled V8-or what it was but that was never used in any big number. To my knowledge only one plane in Canada got the Orenda engine install. Here in AK most Otters are modified with 1000+hp Turboprop engines...Easy to identify by the outrageous long pointy nose...and the friggin turbine whine...wailing...

[@hawker800FO]

id say 95% of all otters are using a turbine now, the old piston pounders are few and far between

[@hotspur666]

The 900hp Garrett is hellishly noisy...but the Walter and PT-6 are TOO quiet...I buzzed lodges five feet above the roof but still could not wake them to go to the dock to go home!

[@johnpaajanen4437]

hawker800FO P

[@mothmagic1]

What ever happened to Viking's plans to build new Beavers? I'm sure they would sell them as fast as they could build them

[@collinfraser1218]

Many years flying float planes west coast Canada, can't recall bare footin it, even for beach ops. My kids missed their comfy lase-less skater shoes, sensitive feet !

[@jacksonmacd]

Barefoot on the exhaust must be exciting

[@LobstarNZ]

Damn that Pilot is good😍.

[@AhnkoCheeOutdoors]

Nothing like a BIG radial engine.

[@Agislife1960]

Definitely the original geared 1340 engine and three blade Hamilton Standard hydromatic propeller, also used on the Grumman Mallard.

[@thepeacoatdude6624]

so basically the only difference between the old otter and the beaver is that the otter is bigger?

[@hotspur666]

Twice as big and can fly much slower...(and the turbo much faster)As a private plane, the Beaver is far more handy.

[@wdk535]

Is he flying that thing in his bare feet?

[@johnchristie3984]

Sure looks like it!!

[@mickeybowmeister1944]

It's Kiwiland, even Jacinda Adern goes around barefoot!

[@Purlee100]

He'a Kiwi, what else would he fly in!

[@reeda5146]

@@Purlee100 Jandals!!

[@kenhowell07]

Love the barefoot flying

[@mastertek383]

That 1340 is a great radial but I dont think I've ever heard one that sounds anywhere near as good as the 985

[@hotspur666]

It also power the Norseman and the Mallard, who both are still flying about here and there to interesting places.

[@user-em7pb8el6t]

Otter engine gas is really cleanest!!!!!

[@leonavsol]

Acá dice "This is de Havilland Otter" . . . Pero es el famoso De Havilland DHC Beaver.

[@johnchristie1948]

Hi Leonardo - this plane is an Otter - if you look up the registration letters on Google it will come up with the details :-)

[@leonavsol]

The airplane that shows the encyclopedia wikipedia like DHC OTTER, is a airplane with turboprop engine. . . It also explains that it is larger than the Beaver, but the most noticeable difference is noticed in the engine. As I say: The Beaver has a radial engine. The otter, turboprop engine

[@johnchristie1948]

Just to confirm this aircraft is an Otter. www.dropbox.com/s/7am8o5btzy9i8j7/otter%20reg%20and%20history%20nz.jpg?dl=0

[@davemacmurchie6982]

@@leonavsol It's true that most Slotters that you see these days are turbos, but originally they were piston pounders. Both aircraft are thick as starlings around here (British Columbia) and this one is assuredly an Otter. There are a fair number of turbo Beavers as well.

[@PeterNGloor]

Is this one re-engined ?

[@johnchristie1948]

Apparently not.

[@Realroyrogers]

Engine fires can turn the rudder pedals too hot to touch very quickly, while there are no regulations that would prevent bare feet ; however, it would be stupidity if you were in some kind of emergency or a crash landing, you would be useless. JMHO

[@ericnguyen1419]

Otter has landing in new zealand

[@TRPGpilot]

Nice!

[@GMC6523]

This look more of a beaver to me sir

[@johnchristie1948]

Just to confirm this aircraft is an Otter. www.dropbox.com/s/7am8o5btzy9i8j7/otter%20reg%20and%20history%20nz.jpg?dl=0

[@cwam1701e]

@@johnchristie1948 Yeah, Otter for sure! The Beaver is the smaller version of the Otter or, if you prefer, the Otter is the larger version of the Beaver! Apart from size they do look very alike though.

[@alainrobillard4300]

I think it can lift twice the payload of the beaver

[@kirkchapman80]

ATAK!

[@ericnguyen1419]

L