Back to the Future – The Return of De Havilland with a Capital “D”
De Havilland Canada is back, a newly resurrected company that is celebrating its ties to the past while it looks to the future.
Revival Mission
The iconic de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter enjoyed an initial 20-year production run before the final plane rolled off the Downsview, Ontario assembly line in 1988. It took almost another 20 years until Viking Air launched the upgraded Series 400 Twin Otter, responding to a market that couldn’t find a replacement for the legacy STOL utility plane. But Viking believes the new version has found its place.
Viking Air and the New Twin Otter Series 400
AvGeeks know that there are a few airplanes that are in the "Love ‘em, can’t replace ‘em!" category. The venerable Douglas DC-3 is one. Never duplicated, and still flying, even though the last DC-3 rolled off the assembly line in 1947. The deHavilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter is another. Amazing Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) capability, twin bulletproof Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprops, decent cruise speed, has 19 seats, or it can carry a whack of cargo. But now, Victoria-based Viking Air has restarted production of the Twin Otter, as a new and improved airplane!