De Havilland Canada Dhc-2 Beaver

Single Piston

The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a legendary bush aircraft that defined backcountry aviation when it entered service in 1947. Originally powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial piston engine, the Beaver became the gold standard for short takeoff and landing operations in remote terrain, capable of operating from lakes, gravel bars, and improvised strips across Alaska, northern Canada, and wilderness regions worldwide. Its rugged construction, exceptional slow-flight handling, and ability to haul substantial loads into tight spaces made it indispensable for bush operators, and it remains in widespread commercial service more than seven decades after its first flight. The DH2T designation indicates a turbine-converted Beaver, typically retrofitted with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engine producing 680 shaft horsepower, nearly double the original radial's output. This conversion transforms the already-capable Beaver into a significantly more powerful performer, improving climb rate, cruise speed, payload capacity, and high-altitude performance while reducing maintenance complexity and improving cold-weather reliability. Turbine Beavers are particularly prized by operators in Alaska and northern Canada, where the combination of STOL capability, turbine power, and floats or tundra tires enables access to the most challenging environments. The type's slow-speed handling remains exceptional, with approach speeds around 55 knots and stall speeds in the low 40s, while the turbine conversion pushes cruise performance into the 140-knot range at altitude. SkyMeter has tracked 237 flights across 22 airframes and 21 operators, with KENMORE AIR HARBOR LLC the largest observed operator.