History

The DHC-2 Beaver was developed in the second half of forties as a successor of the Noorduyn Norseman, which was then used as so-called "bush-plane".
The Beaver could be equipped with skis, floats or wheel undercarriage and it appeared not to be a fast machine.
The whole design was focused on a robust and practical use under primitive conditions. There were relatively large doors on both sides of the hull. 
Originally a British engine with a relatively low performance was selected, causing the wing area to increase, but Pratt & Whitney Canada offered surplus Wasp Juniors with an output of 450 hp. The larger wing was retained, which happened to be a positive contribution to the STOL characteristics.

In August 1947 the prototype made its first flight.
In 1948 the U.S. Army was looking for a light utility aircraft and ordered six aircraft for evaluation.
They received the designation YL-20 and the machines tested intensively.
This comprehensive tests were relatively unscathed and in 1951 followed an order.
In 1967 production ended with a total of over 1600 units produced.
The U.S. Army Air Corps had a few hundred in use and also the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary has a number used for SAR purposes.
The Beaver was used for passenger transport and light transport orders.

Currently the parts supply for the Pratt & Whitney engine is the biggest problem, reason for looking for replacement engines, such as a turboprop.

Versions.

Beaver I:
the original STOL version.
  • AL Beaver Mk 1: a version built for the British Army.
  • Beaver YL-20: Test and trial for the U.S. military.
  • L-20A Beaver: The U.S. Army version, of which 968 units were built. Later, in 1962, the designation was changed to U-6A.
  • L-20B Beaver: Basically the same as the L-20A, with small changes in equipment, six examples built for the U.S. Army. The designation became U-6B in 1962.
Beaver II:
fitted with an Alvis Leonides radial engine.
Turbo Beaver III:
A version with a 431 kW Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 or -20 turboprop.
DHC-2/PZL-3S:
in 1980 released conversion from Airtech Canada PZL-3S with a radial engine of 600 hp.

There are plans to put the Beaver back into production, given the demand for this kind of robust aircraft.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 9,22 m Wingspan: 14,63 m
Height: 2,74 m Wing area: 23,2 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 1360 kg Max. start weight: 2310 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 255 km/hr Rate of climb: - m/min
Range: 732 km Service ceiling: 5500 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Pratt 7 Whitney R-985 An-6B Wasp Junior rated 420 hp
Crew: One aviator
Armament: None

 


The aircraft were received in 1956 under MDAP conditions and were assigned to 334 Squadron as a light transport aircraft.
Until mid-1961 they were stationed at air base Deelen, after which they were transferred to air base Ypenburg.
The Beavers were in fact owned by the Dutch Army, but were maintained and flown by the Royal Netherlands Air Force. They were used for mail and passenger flights to e.g. the Wadden Islands. Later they were assigned to 300 Squadron of the Light Aircraft Group.

N02 02 02

DeHavilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver S-9, of the SKHV, photographed at the Static Show at Airshow Lelystad, August 2002.

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DeHavilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver S-9, of the SKHV, photographed op Static Show tijdens Airshow Lelystad in augustus 2002.

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DeHavilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver S-9, of the SKHV, photographed at Static Show at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, June 2003 at airbase Twenthe.

IMG 1913

DeHavilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver S-9, of the SKHV, photographed at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, June 2008 at airbase Leeuwarden.

 

De Havilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, registratie S-1, in de vlucht.
DeHavilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, serial S-1, in flight,
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information] shown in the delivery scheme.
De Havilland
DeHavilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, serial S-9.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information] in the first paint scheme. Note the black anti glare panel on the nose and cowling.
Beaver met registratie S-9, in de vlucht; fotokopie uit tijdschrift.
DeHavilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, serial S-9, in flight.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information] in the second paint scheme; a pattern of khaki, Klu 18 and donkergroen (dark green), Klu 19.
De Havilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, registratie S-3.
DeHavilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, serial S-3, in the second paint scheme.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Laden van De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, registratie S-1, in de sneeuw.
DeHavilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver, serial S-1, in the second paint scheme at squadron 334 (note the badge on the tail)
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Formatie Beavers geregistreerd S-1, S-3, S-7 en S-9. Met day-glow.
Formation Beavers serialled S-1, S-3, S-7 and S-9, all in the last paint scheme with day glo panels and roundels in four positions.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Beaver in day-glow beschildering, met registratie S-8, in de vlucht.
DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver, base flight air base Leeuwarden (note the badge of squadron 322 on the tail), serial S-8.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


SerialUS-Fiscal Year-nr.Construction nr.Date in serviceDate out of serviceNotes
S-1 55-3485 950   01-09-1974 Struck of charge
S-2 55-3486 952   23-04-1968 Written off after accident.
S-3 55-3487 953   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
S-4 55-3488 955   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
S-5 55-3489 956   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
S-6 55-4582 959   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
Used for instructional purposes;
Nowadays preserved for Military Aviation Museum Soesterberg
S-7 55-4583 960   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
S-8 55-4584 962   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
S-9 55-4585 965   01-09-1974 Struck of charge.
Preserved at MLM.
Currently in use as PH-DHC of SKHV

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Airfix
    • Kit 08009: the oldest Beaver kit available; It has the 'famous" rivets of the older Airfix kits. an extra air intake has to be added plus some extra antennas.
  • Classic Plane
    • Kit XX: Several packages of the Airfix release with decals for several versions
  • HobbyCraft
    • Kit 1330: De Havilland DHC2/U6A Beaver
DHC 2 Beaver 334 Sqn AKleijn
A model of a Beaver of 334 squadron, built by Adri Kleijn.

 

DHC 2 Beaver Base Flight Leeuwarden AKleijn
A model of a Beaver of base flight, AFB Leeuwarden, built by Adri kleijn..

 

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Kit --: --.

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72012: Set with decals for several Dutch aircraft such as Beaver S-4
    • Set 72046: Set with decals for Beaver and Hercules
  • Model Decal
    • Set 20: Set decals for e.g. a Dutch Beaver.
  • FlevoDecal
    • Set FD72-007: Set decals for several transport aircraft of the Dutch air force such as three versions of the Beaver.

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • Hobbycraft
    • Kit 1674: Beaver with floats.
    • Kit 1675: Beaver with wheels.

Modelling add-on

  • Vector resin
    • Set 48-026: Pratt and Whitney R985

Decals

  • FlevoDecal
    • Set FD48-007: Set decals for several transport aircraft of the Dutch air force such as three versions of the Beaver.

 


SchemeColour nameFS-numberBS numberHumbrolXtraColorVallejo Model ColorVallejo Model Air
 
Standard #1Delivery scheme Army green/ Olive Drab ANA 613  34088   66 X111 70.887  
 
Standard #2Overall Dark Green, Klu 19  ca ~4079   116 X110 70.893 71.016
Khaki, Klu 18   BS.450 29 X002 70.921  
 
Standard #3As standard #2 with day glo panels. Dark Green, KLu 19 ca ~4079   116 X110 70.893 71.016
Khaki, Klu 18   BS.450 29 X002 70.921  
Day Glo     205   70.733 ?  

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

 


Literature.

AVIA; 33e jaargang nummer 9: Luchtvloot in Plastic: De Havilland Canada Beaver   Pag. 264 1974 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
AVIA; 34e jaargang nummer 3: Vierenzeventig in vogelvlucht   Pag. 73 1975 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
AVIA; 34e jaargang nummer 3: Foto van Beaver S-5 op Soesterberg. (kleur)   Pag. 85 1975 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978 Paul J. Jackson Pag. 48; 63 - 64 1978 Uitgever: Midland Countries Publications, Leicester
Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 2 Hugo Hooftman Pag. 82 - 83 1978 Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht Willem Helfferich Pag. 58 1983 Uitgever: Unieboek b.v., Houten
KLu Vliegtuigen W. Schoenmaker/Th. Postma Pag. 113 1987 Uitgave: De Alk Alkmaar
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht (derde herzien druk Willem Helfferich Pag. 33 1994 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)

 

Websites.