The Legendary DHC-2 DeHavilland Beaver is portrayed during its maiden flight on floats on September 16, 1947 near Toronto Island, flown by wartime Mosquito pilot Russ Bannock. C.H. "Punch" Dickins was Director of Sales of DeHavilland Canada at the time and R.D. "Dick" Hiscocks was Chief Aerodynamicist.
Conceived and designed to satisfy rugged Canadian operating conditions, it was an outstanding success due to the dedication of the entire multi-talented DeHavilland Canada team and has proven to be one of the milestones of Canadian aviation achievements. The original aircraft is displayed in Canada's National Aviation Museum.
After moderate success with its first Canadian designed aircraft, (The Chipmunk trainer) DeHavilland Canada's Managing Director, Phil Garratt, made the decision to "gamble" on a modern "utility" aircraft which could operate from short, rough airstrips as well as on floats or skis. "Punch" Dickins and many experienced air service operators were asked to make design suggestions and they did so - ranging from all metal airframe, battery removal hatch, doors on both sides for docking and several other ease of operation items. Phil Garratt made the vital decision to equip the new machine with the powerful P+W WASP Junior Radial. The design department did an outstanding job in bringing it all together with such success that the Beaver was recognized in 1987 as one of the 10 most outstanding engineering feats in Canada in this century. The first Beaver carried engineer Fred Buller's initials CF-FHB.
Initially purchased by several provincial governments, mining companies and charter operators soon followed suit. However, a demonstration by Russ Bannock to the U.S.A.F. in Alaska and later to the U.S. Army resulted in a dramatic order of 978 aircraft (over 50% of eventual total production and the largest ever international order of a Canadian civil aircraft). Designated the L-20, many of these machines are still in service, having been repurchased by private companies after completing their army service. Operators in over 60 countries have made the "Beaver" name synonymous with the Canadian reputation for hard working, rugged dependability. Over 400 Beavers still live and work in Canada (several having been converted to turbine engines) and the capabilities of the machine are still hard to equal, thus ensuring continued use well into the next century. It's development led to the larger "King Beaver" (known as the Single Otter) and the world famous Twin Otter.
RD. "Dick" Hiscocks MBE, D.Eng., D.Sc. was Vice President, Engineering at DeHavilland Canada when he retired and was in charge of the company's technical office during the Beaver's development.
Wing Commander (Ret.) Russ Bannock, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, is one of Canada's best known WWII pilots. Joining DeHavilland at war's end, he flew the Beaver on its maiden flight, was instrumental in the huge export order to the U.S. and became President at DeHavilland.
C.H. "Punch" Dickins, O.C., O.B.E., D.F.C. born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba on January 12, 1899 served as a WWI D.H.9 pilot. Later an experienced bush pilot with many firsts to his credit, he was in charge of instituting Trans-Atlantic ferry flights during WWII (which delivered vital aircraft to England). He was the first General Manager of the newly formed Canadian Pacific Airlines and Director of Sales of DeHavilland Canada when the Beaver was developed.