De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Aircraft of the Royal Lao Air Force
Entwicklung
The de
Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined high-wing
propeller-driven short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft developed and
manufactured by de Havilland Canada. It has been primarily operated as a
bush plane and has been used for wide variety of utility roles, such as
cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application (crop dusting and aerial
topdressing), and civil aviation duties.
Shortly after the end of the Second World War, de Havilland Canada made
the decision to orient itself towards civilian operators. Based upon
feedback from pilots, the company decided that the envisioned aircraft
should have excellent STOL performance, all-metal construction, and
accommodate many features sought by the operators of bush planes. On 16
August 1947, the maiden flight of the aircraft, which had received the
designation DHC-2 Beaver, took place.
Die de
Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver ist ein einmotoriges Hochdeckerflugzeug, das
von de Havilland Canada entwickelt und hergestellt wird. Es wurde
hauptsächlich als Buschflugzeug betrieben und wurde für eine Vielzahl von
Nutzfunktionen verwendet, wie z. B. Fracht- und Passagierbeförderung,
Pflanzenschutz und Sprayeinsätze und Zivilluftfahrtaufgaben.
Kurz nach Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges traf de Havilland Canada die
Entscheidung, sich an zivile Nutzern zu orientieren. Auf der Grundlage der
Rückmeldungen von Piloten entschied das Unternehmen, dass das vorgesehene
Flugzeug eine hervorragende STOL-Leistung, eine Ganzmetallkonstruktion und
viele Merkmale aufweisen sollte, die von den Betreibern von Buschflugzeugen
angestrebt werden. Am 16. August 1947 fand der Jungfernflug des Flugzeugs,
das die Bezeichnung DHC-2 Beaver erhalten hatte, statt.
Versionen
U-6A
L-20A
U-6A
L-20A
Operational history
Einsatzgeschichte
Two L-20A delivered in 1957/58. Former U.S. Army aircraft. Taken over by Kong Le during his attempted Coup d'Etat in August 1960. Possibly two more delivered. It was planned to supply a total of six L-20s to Laos.
Royal Lao Air Force
Royal Lao Air Force
Royal Lao Air Force
Royal Lao Air Force
| Specifications | U-6A | |
|
Wingspan |
Spannweite |
14.63 m |
|
Length |
Länge |
9.22 m |
|
Height |
Höhe |
2.74 m |
| Wing area | Flügelfläche |
23.2 m2 |
|
Engine |
Motor |
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Jr. radial engine, 450 hp |
|
Maximum speed |
Höchstgeschwindigkeit |
255 km/h |
|
Empty weight |
Leergewicht |
1,361 kg |
|
Loaded weight |
Startgewicht |
2,313 kg |
|
Climb Rate |
Steigrate |
5.2 m/s |
|
Service ceiling |
Gipfelhöhe |
5,486 m |
|
Range |
Reichweite |
732 km |
|
Armament |
Bewaffnung |
none |
|
Capacity |
Zuladung |
1 Pilot, 6 Passengers |
| DeHaviland Canada DHC-2 Beaver | ||||||
| Type |
US Serial |
Reg. |
s/n |
Delivered |
Withdrawn |
Remarks |
| L-20A | 54-1689 | L-201 | 827 | 1. Mar 1962 | 21. Apr 1963 | from and to US Army |
| L-20A | 54-1693 | L-202 | 833 | 1. Mar 1962 | 21. Apr 1963 | from and to US Army |
| L-20A | 56-4404 | L-203 | 1112 | 1. Mar 1962 | 21. Apr 1963 | from and to US Army |
| L-20A | 56-409 | L-204 | 1157 | 1. Mar 1962 | 21. Apr 1963 | from and to US Army |
| L-20A | 56-414 | L-205 | 1167 | 1. Mar 1962 | 21. Apr 1963 | from and to US Army |
| L-20A | 57-2561 | L-206 | 1202 | 1. Mar 1962 | 21. Apr 1963 | from and to US Army |
| L-20A | 53-2845 | L-207 | 661 | 1. Mar 1962 | 6 Apr 1962 | w/o |
| L-20A | 54-1729 | L-208 | 881 | 1. Mar 1962 | 26. Jan 1963 | from and to US Army |
| U-6A | 58-2053 | 82053 | 1385 | ? | 1973 | - |
Mishaps
Zwischenfälle
6. April 1962
Crashed in a takeoff
accident at Xieng Dat (LS-26) resulting from an insufficient runway. The
aircraft was too heavy, hit a tree stump at the right side of the runway
on take-off roll, cartwheeled, burst into flames and killed all on board,
the pilots (William H. Beale Jr., and George A. Varney) and 2 MAAG
soldiers.