Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


General information
Type	STOL utility transport
Manufacturer	de Havilland Canada
Status	Active
Number built	466
History
Manufactured	1951–1967
Introduction date	1953
First flight	12 December 1951
Developed from	DHC-2 Beaver
Developed into	DHC-6 Twin Otter

The rugged single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven DHC-3 Otter was conceived in January 1951 by de Havilland Canada as a larger, more powerful version of its highly successful DHC2 Beaver STOL utility transport. Dubbed the "King Beaver" during design, it would be the veritable "one-ton truck" to the Beaver's "half-ton" role. The Otter received Canadian certification in November 1952 and entered production shortly thereafter. Using the same overall configuration as the Beaver, the new, much heavier design incorporated a longer fuselage, greater-span wing, and cruciform tail. Seating in the main cabin expanded from six to 10 or 11. Power was supplied by a 450-kW (600 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 geared radial. The version used in the Otter was geared for lower propeller revolutions and consequently lower airspeed. The electrical system was 28 volts D.C

Design

designed and The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, including as a bush plane, but is overall a larger aircraft..

Variants

**Otter on floats, powered by a PZL Kalisz ASz-62IR with four blade propeller**

DHC-3 Otter

Single-engined STOL utility transport aircraft.

CSR-123 Otter

STOL utility transport aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

YU-1 Otter

Six test and evaluation aircraft for the U.S. Army.

U-1A Otter

STOL utility transport aircraft for the U.S. Army.

UC-1 Otter

STOL utility transport aircraft for the United States Navy. Later redesignated **U-1B Otter** in 1962.

DHC-3-T Turbo-Otter

Otters fitted with either Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 or Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engine.

Airtech Canada DHC-3/1000 Otter

Conversions powered by PZL Kalisz ASz-62IR engines.

Texas Turbines Super Otter

Turbine conversion powered by a 900 shp (671 kW) Garret TPE331 turboprop engine

Aerotech Industries

Turbine conversion powered by a 900shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140A turboprop engine.

Hawker Siddeley Aircraft

de Havilland Aircraft Company de Havilland DHC.3 Otter Manufactured 1951–1967

General Info

Crew: 1 or 2 Capacity: 9–11 passengers (optional 10th seat in main cabin) / 6 stretchers with 4 seats / 2-3 stretchers with 7 seats Length: 41 ft 10 in (12.75 m) Wingspan: 58 ft 0 in (17.68 m) Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m) seaplane 15 ft 0 in (5 m) Cabin length: 16 ft 5 in (5 m) Cabin width: 5 ft 2 in (2 m) Cabin height: 4 ft 11 in (1 m) Empty weight: (1,863 kg) seaplane 4,620 lb (2,096 kg) fixed skis 4,361 lb (1,978 kg) Gross weight: 3,629 kg) seaplane (3,614 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1-G Wasp 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 600 hp (450 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 260 km/h, at 1,524m seaplane 153 mph (133 kn; 246 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m) skiplane 254 km/ at 1,524 m Cruise speed: 138 mph (222 km/h, 120 kn) 66% power at (1,524 m) Range: 960 mi (1,540 km, 830 nmi) full internal fuel at 5,000 ft (1,524 m) Endurance: 9 hours 24 minutes at 5,000 ft (1,524 m) Service ceiling: (5,700 m) S1H1-G engine 17,400 ft (5,304 m) S3H1-G engine Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 1,310 ft (399 m) seaplane 1,980 ft (604 m) Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 975 ft (297 m)

Maximum speed: 260 km/h, at 1,524m

seaplane 153 mph (133 kn; 246 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)

skiplane 254 km/ at 1,524 m

Cruise speed: 138 mph (222 km/h, 120 kn) 66% power at (1,524 m)

Range: 960 mi (1,540 km, 830 nmi) full internal fuel at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)

Endurance: 9 hours 24 minutes at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)

Service ceiling: (5,700 m)
S1H1-G engine

17,400 ft (5,304 m) S3H1-G engine

Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 1,310 ft (399 m)

seaplane 1,980 ft (604 m)

Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 975 ft (297 m)

Special Links de Havilland Aircraft Company de Havilland DHC.3 Otter

Links to Youtube & Others

The most extensively modified Otter was RCAF Otter 3682. After initial service as a standard Search and Rescue aircraft it was used to explore the aerodynamic aspects of STOL. In 1958, it was fitted with flaps so outsized that, with their 45 degree droop, it became known as the Batwing Otter.

de Havilland Aircraft Havilland DHC.3 Otter

In 1961, de Havilland began work upon a small business jet, then known as the DH.125 Jet Dragon.

Youtube Link

The aircraft went through many designation changes during its service life. Hawker Siddeley had bought de Havilland the year before the project had started, but the legacy brand and "DH" designation.

de Havilland Aircraft Company de Havilland DHC.3 Otter
First flight 12 December 1951
Manufactured 1951–1967