A DHC-6 Twin Otter Resurrection?

[rmsmith 1]

WILL VINTAGE DE HAVILLAND AIRPLANES RETURN?
The type certificates for all of de Havilland Canada's wild animals,
from the Chipmunk and Beaver to the Otter and Caribou, have been purchased
by Viking Air of Sidney, British Columbia. Viking Air will decide this
summer whether to put the DHC-6 Twin Otter back in production, said company
President David Curtis. At the time of purchase, the type certificates
were held by Bombardier. The transfer of the type certificates had first
been announced a year ago when Viking took over Bombardier's service
support for the seven models. The certificates include the DHC-1 Chipmunk,
the DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-3 Otter, the DHC-4 Caribou, the DHC-5 Buffalo,
the 20-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the DHC-7 (Dash-7). Viking Air has
had the rights for spare parts manufacturing for the Beaver and Otter
since 1983, and has been a major supplier of spare parts to Bombardier
for the Twin Otter and Dash-series airplanes.

[diablopilot 2]

Don't expect to see them in Skydiving. If manufactured, the new pricing should be outragious! Look at how Cessna's aircraft are. A new 182 is out of sight when it comes to funding one for a DZ.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[davelepka 4]

We'll see them in skydiving. In 25 years.

My guess for a new Otter? Maybe $2M? $2.5M?

[kallend 2,146]

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Don't expect to see them in Skydiving. If manufactured, the new pricing should be outragious! Look at how Cessna's aircraft are. A new 182 is out of sight when it comes to funding one for a DZ.

Right. A new Cessna 172 with decent avionics is pushing $400k. A new Mooney is around $500k, and these are just 4 seater piston singles.

However, new production for regional airlines or whatever would ensure spare parts production for years to come.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[riggerrob 643]

You will be surprised at how rapidly new Cessnas depreciate.
Last year a neighbor bought a 1999 Cessna 172 (with an IFR panel and fresh engine overhaul) for CAN$70,000!
That is the same price as a 1980s-vintage 172 in similar condition.

[riggerrob 643]

A couple of years ago, Viking announced that they were reviving production of Turbine Beavers. We have not seen any new Beavers emerge from their shop, just a bunch of overhauled and upgraded Beavers.
They also mumbled about opening the Trigull ( a Seabee-like flying boat) but we have not seen any new Trigulls.
We will believe Viking's claims when they roll new airplanes out the door.
Meanwhile, Viking is full-employed overhauling old Beavers and single Otters.

[AggieDave 6]

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Right. A new Cessna 172 with decent avionics is pushing $400k. A new Mooney is around $500k, and these are just 4 seater piston singles.

However, new production for regional airlines or whatever would ensure spare parts production for years to come.

Yes, however, that's brand new. As our fleet of AC age in skydiving, so does the new ACs around the world. Something that isn't useful to someone anymore due to the avionics not being the cutting edge and the AC being 10 years old doesn't mean that its not useful for skydiving.

How old are the Otters in use now? How old are the 182s in use now? Who's to say in 15 years that, assuming more are made, we'll be buying the "new" Otters for skydiving.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[kallend 2,146]

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Right. A new Cessna 172 with decent avionics is pushing $400k. A new Mooney is around $500k, and these are just 4 seater piston singles.

However, new production for regional airlines or whatever would ensure spare parts production for years to come.

Yes, however, that's brand new. As our fleet of AC age in skydiving, so does the new ACs around the world. Something that isn't useful to someone anymore due to the avionics not being the cutting edge and the AC being 10 years old doesn't mean that its not useful for skydiving.

How old are the Otters in use now? How old are the 182s in use now? Who's to say in 15 years that, assuming more are made, we'll be buying the "new" Otters for skydiving.

Diablopilots's post, mine, and yours do not contradict each other in any way.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[AggieDave 6]

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Diablopilots's post, mine, and yours do not contradict each other in any way.

Then I guess I've been working too much this week, I didn't read it that way at first but now I see what you were getting at.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[gemini 0]

All twin Otters were made starting in the early 1960's and ending in the early 1980's. Amost all skydiving Otters are DHC6-100 and 200 models which limits them to the 1960's and 1970's.

Some parts are still available new like the gear assemblies, wings, and engines. A lot of the smaller parts are rebuilds only and very expensive. With or without the FAA, the fleet will eventually get to expensive to operate or will be more expensive to operate than an alternative and the fleet will change again.

Blue skies,

Jim

[diablopilot 2]

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Quote

Don't expect to see them in Skydiving. If manufactured, the new pricing should be outragious! Look at how Cessna's aircraft are. A new 182 is out of sight when it comes to funding one for a DZ.

Right. A new Cessna 172 with decent avionics is pushing $400k. A new Mooney is around $500k, and these are just 4 seater piston singles.

However, new production for regional airlines or whatever would ensure spare parts production for years to come.

In addition, I think it's an aircraft (the DHC-6) that has lost it's niche.

For carg there are more efficient o opperate designs like the Caravan C-208, and C-208B, and for passengers there are Regional Jets, and the DHC-8 and it's derivitives.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[kallend 2,146]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Don't expect to see them in Skydiving. If manufactured, the new pricing should be outragious! Look at how Cessna's aircraft are. A new 182 is out of sight when it comes to funding one for a DZ.

Right. A new Cessna 172 with decent avionics is pushing $400k. A new Mooney is around $500k, and these are just 4 seater piston singles.

However, new production for regional airlines or whatever would ensure spare parts production for years to come.

In addition, I think it's an aircraft (the DHC-6) that has lost it's niche.

For carg there are more efficient o opperate designs like the Caravan C-208, and C-208B, and for passengers there are Regional Jets, and the DHC-8 and it's derivitives.

A DHC-6 is still the only plane ever to land at the South Pole in winter. However, that market is pretty small!

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[gemini 0]

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In addition, I think it's an aircraft (the DHC-6) that has lost it's niche.

??? Then how come small airlines around the world will pay $2 million US for a -300?

Regional jets are great, but they are not STOL don't like gravel or grass runways, and the maintainance per hour is a ummhh just a little more than the Otter.

Blue skies,

Jim

[jumpwally 0]

I think the Dornier 328 would be neet !

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[gemini 0]

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I think the Dornier 328 would be neet !

Ok, you go first since you'de be getting out in front of a six bladed prop.

Blue skies,

Jim

[Fast 0]

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I think the Dornier 328 would be neet !

Ok, you go first since you'de be getting out in front of a six bladed prop.

There are a few options on the plane for exit aft of the props. I think it would be a neat "special" jump thing at like a rantoul. Just cause its different.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[gemini 0]

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There are a few options on the plane for exit aft of the props.

That you can add 20 years later? Most mods after the fact will take a while to get approved.

Blue skies,

Jim

[riggerrob 643]

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I think the Dornier 328 would be neet !

Ok, you go first since you'de be getting out in front of a six bladed prop.

There are a few options on the plane for exit aft of the props. I think it would be a neat "special" jump thing at like a rantoul. Just cause its different.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Far easier to borrow a Dornier 228, because it is a 22-seat trurboprop designed to compete directly with Twin Otters on feeder routes. Dornier even designed an in-flight door that slips into the original - aft - cargo door.
We used to jump Dornier 228s at monthly boogies in Leutkirch, West Germany, back during the mid-1980s.

[jumpwally 0]

Hmm, thats funny, im looking at my wifes flight book and it shows a rear door,,,oh look an exit light,,and I remember food service loading thru it. must have been a dream

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[gemini 0]

I've never seen one, but the floor sketch I have doesn't show a rear door, only a cargo hatch.

Blue skies,

Jim

[Fast 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Quote

I think the Dornier 328 would be neet !

Ok, you go first since you'de be getting out in front of a six bladed prop.

There are a few options on the plane for exit aft of the props. I think it would be a neat "special" jump thing at like a rantoul. Just cause its different.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Far easier to borrow a Dornier 228, because it is a 22-seat trurboprop designed to compete directly with Twin Otters on feeder routes. Dornier even designed an in-flight door that slips into the original - aft - cargo door.
We used to jump Dornier 228s at monthly boogies in Leutkirch, West Germany, back during the mid-1980s.

Probally true.

Though its not as big and the tail on the 328 is less of an issue (Though, I doubt its a large concern on the 228 either)

Bigger is more "cool" or something like that.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[TomSpoon 4]

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I think the Dornier 328 would be neet !

Me too.

Ive got about 6000 hrs in the 328 and sometimes wondered what kind of jump ship it would make.

With 2180 SHP a side it's a hot rod for a turbo prop.

Just remove the aft bulkhead and baggage door and away you go.

Of course someone would have to prove to the feds that it was safe.

They cost about 10 million new and would probably be about 5-6 million on the used market.

How many twin otters can you buy for that?

[diablopilot 2]

4 or 5.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[pilotdave 0]

Closer to 7 to 10 100/200 series otters...

Dave

[TomSpoon 4]

Very good gentleman. Here are your mathematics grades;

Pilotdave A+

Diablopilot C-

By the way. The D328 would probably make it to 13.5 in about 10 minutes and take about 5 minutes to descend.

For extra credit. How many loads is that per hour?

No calculators please. That's cheating.

Here's a link to a pic of a lots of 328's just sitting in the desert.
Just pick one and 6 million dollars later you're in the jump plane business.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0873009&size=M&sok=JURER%20%20%28ZNGPU%20%28nvepensg%2Cnveyvar%2Ccynpr%2Ccubgb_qngr%2Cpbhagel%2Cerznex%2Ccubgbtencure%2Crznvy%2Clrne%2Cert%2Cnvepensg_trarevp%2Cpa%2Cpbqr%29%20NTNVAFG%20%28%27%2B%22cfn%22%20%2B%22qbeavre%22%20%2B%22328%22%27%20VA%20OBBYRNA%20ZBQR%29%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=5&tbl=