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5050 Santa Fe Drive Atwater, California 95301
DeHavilland Canada DHC-2 (U-6A) Beaver
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1- October 31
9:00am - 5:00pm
November 1 - April 30
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round,
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
Specifications
Country of Origin: Canada
Manufacturer: DeHavilland Aircraft, Ltd., Canada
Role/Function: Light Utility Transport
Serial Number: 54-1707
Model Number/Mk. #: DHC-2 Mk. II
Crew: 1 + 6 Passengers (or equivilent cargo).
Power Plant: 1 - Pratt & Whitney Canada R-985 Wasp Junior @ 450 hp.
Maximum Speed: 163 mph (262.3 kmh)
Cruising Speed: n/a
Service Ceiling: 18,000 ft. (5,486.4 m)
Range: 733 mi. (1,179.65 km)
Weights: Empty: 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg) Gross: 5,100 lbs. (2,313.3 kg)
Wing Span: 48 ft. (14.63 m)
Length: 30 ft. 3 in. (9.23 m)
Height: 9 ft. (2.74 m)
Wing Area: 250 ft² (23.2 m²)
Armament: None.
Cost: $136,800 CDN (at the time of manufacture in 1947)
# Built: 1,657 (980 went to the U.S. Military)
# in Current Service: Despite the fact that production ceased in 1967, hundreds of Beavers are still flyingmany of them heavily modified to adapt to changes in technology and needs.
Originally designed as a utility aircraft for service in Canadas rugged north, this plane was valued by both the U. S. Army and Air Force. Some 980 were purchased by the U.S as L-20s. It could be fitted with skis or with floats and was used for observation and light transport duties. Though not very fast (163 mph maximum), they were quick to get off the ground. A fully loaded L-20 could clear a 50 ft. obstacle while using only 1200 feet of runway. It could carry 7 passengers or up to 1,500 lbs of cargo.
Of the first 100 Beavers built by DeHavilland Canada beginning in 1948, only 18 were sold to the United States and abroad, the remainder going to the hungry Canadian market. Of the second 100, 65 were exports and two new offices sprang up to deal with the US military commitment to the L-20 Beaver, which was the first time since the Second World War that the American military had accepted delivery of foreign-made military Aircraft. Although designed as a triphibious bush plane for the Canadian wilderness it was soon dubbed the "flying jeep" by the US military for its outstanding multi-purpose abilities during the Korean War.
The Beaver was redesignated as U-6 in the uniform military aircraft designation of 1962
