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About the author.
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A long time enthusiast of the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver bush plane, aviation artist and researcher Neil Aird decided to do something about all the information he had amassed on this aircraft. This Web site is the start of this "mission". . it has surpassed his wildest dreams, and continues to "grow" by leaps and bounds. By September 2023 it was noted that over 2,077,200 unique visitors had been logged.
Why does he do this ?? Check Kingston Whig Standard article..it might just give some clues ;-)
Neil, born in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1945. Since 1968, a resident of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Married to Danielle in 1970, they have three children, Katie, Robin and Anthony, and five grandchildren - Chloe, Claudia, Camille, Callum and Laurel.
They retired from, and sold their business Metalworks - Contemporary Jewellery in 2004. Danielle and Neil pursue their own interests with passion. Danielle with her writing and philanthropic work for the destitute of Kolkatta, India. She started a registered charity Calcutta Rescue Canada and worked tirelessly for that cause. What a gal she is! We now support a private school and details can be found here The India Connection. She finished her second book, this time about her adventures and observations on "The Camino" - recounting her travels, and characters met on her many long walks in Northern Spain. Now working (2023) on her third book, again about "The Camino" - 100 Pilgrims' Tales. In recent years Neil has given lectures on "The de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver" to the Canadian Avaition Historical Society at their Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston and Montréal chapters. Another venue was at the Royal Military College at Kingston. Spreading "the gospel" so to speak! Not too long ago, in Gisborne, New Zealand! Other aspects of Aviation, particularly tracking aircraft in his "airspace", keep him very busy. He too, is working on a book, but this is just for his family - his Metalsmithing career and the works produced. A slow nostalgic task, and a break from aeroplanes! Still means editing and restoring images - which he really enjoys.
Since August 2001 until he got "too busy" Neil was the DHC-2 and DHC-3 editor for Aviation Databases. This will eventually have a very comprehensive listing of these types in their huge, accurate database. Check it out.
He also helped Dan Willink in the compilation of a definitive production list that commenced with the MAY 2002 edition of AMCAR. March 2004 saw the final chapter...if there is ever a final chapter!! For the past several years he has been founder / webmaster of TwinOtterArchive.com, a website dedicated to the memory of Mike Ody. With his colleague, Ian Macintosh (Bristol, UK), Neil keeps this comprehensive data base accurate with historical information and photographs of every de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter built and being built or restored. By September 2023 over 325,650 unique visitors had been logged at the website, and some 5,250 images added. A good start! Ian and I keep TwinOtterArchive running as an important back-up. Neil's most recent venture was a website dedicated to the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter / DHC-3archive.com - again, only the expertise and assistance of colleagues makes this possible. Karl E. Hayes of Ireland, the World renowned Otter expert is on board, without Karl's input, the task would be just "too much" . . By September 2023 over 204,000 unique visitors had been logged at the website. Karl is busy updating all the data and these are added on a regular basis. What next, I wonder? Gradually adding images taken on my aviation travels over the years, the most recent addition was "Fairbanks Friends". You can find these Adventures in my section called Aird Aviation Archives. Neil maintains a blog - of sorts - has done so since 28 December 2005. You can reach the current one here.
This web site is dedicated to my patient and almost tolerant family.
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