Article from The OBSERVAIR

Volume 44, Number 8 November 2007

Reprinted with permission © CAHS Ottawa Chapter

 DHC-2 Beavers
 IN OUR BACKYARD;
 LAURENTIAN
 AIR SERVICES

For many years, Ottawa-based Laurentian Air Services (LAS) was the local centre of de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver activity, as the company operated and maintained numerous aircraft from the Ontario and Quebec areas.  Late Fall was always a busy time as the working bush planes came in for maintenance, winter storage or float-to-ski changeover.  Float-equipped aircraft landed on the grass beside runway 04-22 at the North end of the field.  They were then hoisted onto a dolly or beaching wheels and towed to Laurentian’s hangar complex.  The process was reversed in the Spring, when the float-equipped aircraft were hoisted onto a four-wheeled dolly, started up, towed to the end of the runway, then let loose to take off, leaving the dolly to careen off on its own.  As well, many wrecks and surplus DHC-2 Beavers came to LAS from around the world; most eventually emerged with overhauls and fresh paint schemes to live another day.

CAHS members Rod Digney and Bill Sawchuk have opened their photo archives to share some of their images of the iconic Canadian bush plane in local surroundings.