de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
de Havilland Canada · Canada · first flew 1947 · light aircraft
The DHC-2 Beaver is Canada's legendary STOL bush plane, a rugged radial-engined high-wing utility aircraft still working remote airstrips and lakes decades after its 1947 debut.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Boxy upright high-wing fuselage with big square cabin windows |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Boxy upright high-wing fuselage with big square cabin windows
- Single nose-mounted radial under a stubby cowling
- Strut-braced wing, often fitted with floats or tundra tyres
A tall, square-shouldered single-engine high-wing taildragger with a blunt radial nose and a big glasshouse cabin, the Beaver looks purpose-built for hauling. Its strutted wing, conventional tail and frequent float or balloon-tyre fit mark it as a quintessential bush plane.
Specifications
- The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver has a length of 9.22 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 255 km/h (158 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed as a 'half-ton flying pickup truck' for Canadian bush operations, the Beaver first flew in 1947 and entered wide service across the world's wilderness. A total of 1,657 were built before production ended in 1967, and it remains one of Canada's most iconic aircraft.
Variants
The piston Beaver I was the mainstay, while military versions served as the L-20A and U-6A in US use and the Beaver AL.1 with the British Army. The turboprop Turbo-Beaver introduced a PT6 engine, and firms such as Viking and Kenmore still produce extensively rebuilt examples.
Where you'll see it
The British Army Air Corps operated the Beaver AL.1 into 1979, including service in Northern Ireland. Preserved UK examples include two Army Beaver AL.1s at the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, and a US Army U-6A at the Midland Air Museum.
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- Aero 45
- Aeronca 15 Sedan
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52
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