London – Canada Post released a new set of 5 stamps this month, paying tribute to one of the most iconic aircraft in Canadian aviation history, the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver.
The DHC-2 Beaver is one of five achievements featured in Canada Post’s new “Canadian in Flight” series. Canada Post describes the iconic DHC-2 Beaver selection as follows:
The Beaver is considered the greatest bushplane of all time and was named one of the top ten Canadian engineering achievements of the 20th century.
The all-metal plane’s short take-off and landing capabilities, along with the ability to attach wheels, floats, or skis, made the Beaver ideal for accessing and connecting to remote parts of the country.
“We are honored that Canada Post has selected the DHC-2 Beaver to be part of this new series honoring Canada’s achievements in aviation.” Brian Chafe, CEO of de Havilland Canada.
“Today is a special day for our company, a special day for those whose lives have been improved over the past 75 years by this amazing aircraft, and many more to come.”
About the DHC-2 Beaver
De Havilland Canada began designing the DHC-2 Beaver in 1946. The company’s engineers surveyed Bush and his pilots in remote areas of northern Canada and several countries about what was most important to them in the new aircraft.
The pilots requested a robust and reliable all-metal aircraft capable of carrying a 0.5 tonne payload with good takeoff, landing and climb performance. Similarly, aircraft that operate year-round on wheels, floats, or skis from isolated outposts and are exposed to climatic conditions ranging from scorching sun to subzero cold, ice, and snow.
The first DHC-2 Beaver flew off the runway at Toronto’s Downsview Airport 75 years ago this summer, August 16, 1947. De Havilland Canada has produced a total of 1,692 of his DHC-2 Beavers in his 20-year production run of this aircraft.
The DHC-2T MK III Turbo Beaver (a turboprop variant) first flew on December 30, 1963. These aircraft were his 60 built between 1963 and 1968.
Photo: DHC-2 Beaver Mk1 at Lake Temagami. Photo credit: Alan Rio via Wikimedia Commons
In 1983 de Havilland Canada contracted Viking Air Limited to manufacture spare parts for the DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-2 MK III Turbo Beaver. Likewise, many of the blueprints and production tools for these parts were transferred to a company in Sydney, British Columbia.
In 1987, the Engineering Centennial Board of Canada named the DHC-2 Beaver one of the top ten Canadian engineering achievements of the 20th century.
In 2006, Viking received type certification for seven de Havilland Canada aircraft, including the DHC-2 Beaver.
Today, more than 750 of these iconic aircraft are in operation around the world.
