First New Twin Otter in 22 years to fly next week . . .

[amraam]

Viking flew its first new build DHC Twin Otter Series 400 from Calgary International Airport today in front of a large crowd of people gathered inside their hangar. In addition, they performed a fly-by on Rwy. 16 after taking off from Rwy. 34. After completing a short circuit, they landed on Rwy. 34 in front of their invited guests.

Below are a couple of pictures taken from the west side of the airport (in varying light) as well as a link to my Flickr page with a couple of others.

Hope you enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37775469@N08/

[kiloindiapapa]

A beautiful bird. Very nice pictures on you flickr pages. I see you go one of the coyotes jet. I saw the Dallas Stars jet there in yyc at the aeroshell a week ago.

[Cougar]

Sweet, sweet, sweet!!

Who's "Mikey"??

(Thank you for the photos....)

[SeptRepair]

Congrats to the Viking crews.

[beechnut]

A great moment in Viking Air history,my hat is off to all who had anything to do with this huge effort. Enjoy your well deserved moment in Aviation history.
Beechnut

[ETOPS]

Why is the gear allays left extended on these test flights?

[linecrew]

Sweet, sweet, sweet!!

Who's "Mikey"??

(Thank you for the photos....)

Given the reg I think the name Mojo would have been more fitting.

[CLguy]

Is Wendell Bell at the controls? Anyone know who the crew was that did the first flight?

[Bulawrench]

Congrats...Mikey is a fitting name....lots of hard work by all.

[PanEuropean]

Anyone know who the crew was that did the first flight?

Here is the press release from Viking:

Calgary, AB, February 16, 2010: In advance of Transport Canada certification, the first
new-production DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otter has taken its initial flight from Viking’s final
assembly facility in Calgary, Alberta.

Aircraft manufacturers serial number (MSN) 845, Canadian registration C-FMJO is the first
new production Twin Otter since de Havilland Canada ended production in 1988 with the
delivery of MSN 844. Sold to launch customer Zimex Aviation of Switzerland, MSN 845 is
equipped with Honeywell’s Apex IFR digital flight deck, including FDR & CVR and
configured with a commuter interior, the aircraft is to be used throughout North Africa
servicing the oil and gas industry.

Steve Stackhouse, Manager of Flight Operations, along with Viking President and CEO
David Curtis, piloted the aircraft on the initial flight, commenting, “the aircraft performed
exactly as expected, it felt very stable, fast, and even with my thousands of hours on type,
this new Series 400 Twin Otter brought a smile to my face.”

“This is a significant milestone, not only for Viking and our entire team, but also for our many
customers,” commented David Curtis. “Flying the first new Twin Otter in 22 years is the
culmination of many months of hard work and determination by our staff and supply chain
partners.”

The first production aircraft has been registered C-FMJO in honour of Michael J. Orr, a former
member of Viking’s Board of Directors. Mike was a keen supporter of the plan to re-start Twin
Otter production and sadly passed away on October 10th, 2006. In keeping with Viking tradition
of naming aircraft, “Mikey” has been fondly added to the nose of MSN 845. Several of Mike’s
family were in attendance to witness the first flight.

Viking announced the production re-launch of a modernized Twin Otter in March of 2007 with
the introduction of the DHC-6 Series 400 model, which features over 400 modifications and
improvements centered around a completely modernized flight deck and added safety systems
while retaining the legacy aircraft’s famous robust airframe design. Most notable of these
changes is the incorporation the fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex digital avionics suite,
and Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 turbines engines to support the aircraft’s unsurpassed capability
in specialized operating environments.

With Canadian certification imminent, Viking expects first customer deliveries to start shortly.

[Cougar]

Thank you for the link to the press report.

Congratulations to everyone involved... what an impressive accomplishment!

And, Hat's off to you, Mikey.

That's really neat that his name is on the nose.

[CanadianEh]

Does anyone know of any Canadian companies who will be buying some of these?

[wee_in_yyc]

Caught the first one (C-FMJO) in Zimex Aviation colours today taxiing into Viking in YYC:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wee_in_yyc/4606743747/

[oldncold]

wonderful to see the new TWATTER back in the game . (to those uptight politically correct types in the words of demi moore in gi jane "suk my dk master chief") grow a skin.

It has been called a twatter for longer than 40 yrs. 25yrs before political correctness sucked the life out of intelligent debate and free speech.


I digress , my ? is is there a dhc6 in the canadian aviation museum in ottawa..

2 / may I suggest the first 2 canadian operators of the new 400 be named for kenn borek and neil mcdonald. then every canadian operator after that for a operator of the dhc6 ie grant smith/ ivey 's in kenora etc. a modern day legacy to those who have contributed much to the awesome history and lore of the TWATTER .

well once again great to see things are looking up for the future of aircraft production in canada. big kudos to those busting a gut,sweating the financials to make it happen .

[MUSKEG]

If I cough up the 4.5 mill? to buy me a new twatter you can be certain it will have a name I choose on it. Not someone I have never met regardless to his or her contribution to the twatter game. I don't think Viking would argue that for a sale.

[CLguy]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vietnamese Navy Selects Viking Series 400 Twin Otter for First Air Wing
Multi-Aircraft Contract with Missionization, Spares and Training Pushes Viking Backlog in Excess of 200 Million

(Geneva, Switzerland, May 4th, 2010): Viking Air of Victoria, BC, Canada and the Vietnam Navy have finalized a purchase agreement for six DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft. With this historic purchase the Vietnam Ministry of Defense has acquired its first ever western built aircraft, and the formation of the Navy’s initial fixed wing aircraft Air Wing.

The Series 400 Twin Otters are scheduled for delivery between 2012 through 2014, and will be equipped for amphibious operations. The six aircraft will be configured with convertible interiors covering VIP, commuter, and utility layouts, with three of the six designated “Guardian 400” maritime patrol variants. Ideally suited for the Navy’s operations, the Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft will be used for transport, resupply, maritime surveillance and search and rescue throughout Vietnamese coastal regions.

Also included in the agreement are sensor package options, air conditioning, galley and lavatory installations, and a comprehensive spares support package. All technical and flight training from ab-initio through commercial multi engine, and including Twin Otter Series 400 amphibious float operating experience will be provided by Viking’s sister organization Pacific Sky Aviation, a flight training unit located in Victoria International Airport, Canada.

Representatives of the Vietnamese Navy, in collaboration with the GAET Company from the Ministry of Defense, have been working with Viking and its local representative Canam Active Enterprises Inc. over the past several years to develop the contract. Following an extensive evaluation and configuration phase, the DHC-6 Series 400 was selected as best suited to meet the operational requirements of the Vietnam Navy.

David Curtis, Viking president and CEO, commented “After a long and thorough procurement process, Viking is proud to have been selected by the Vietnamese Navy to supply new DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, perfectly suited for use over Vietnam’s extensive 3400 km coastline. It is also significant to note that the Series 400 is the first western built, fixed wing aircraft to be selected by the Vietnam Department of National Defense, another highlight to add to the long list of Twin Otter program milestones.”

Viking launched the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 production program in 2007, and currently has a production backlog estimated at over $200M through 2014. Viking provides OEM support for the worldwide fleet of de Havilland heritage line of aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7), and is part of Westerkirk Capital Inc., a Canadian private investment firm with substantial holdings in the hospitality, aviation and real estate sectors.

[linecrew]

At a glance, how would one recognize the -400 externally from an older model?

[Dr. Mcillicuddy]

One would be that the fusilage just aft of the front doors is not all beat to shit from the blades, two would be no fix at station 60.

[Mihai]

no heads up display? no thanks.

[Human Factor]

wonderful to see the new TWATTER back in the game . (to those uptight politically correct types in the words of demi moore in gi jane "suk my dk master chief") grow a skin.

It has been called a twatter for longer than 40 yrs. 25yrs before political correctness sucked the life out of intelligent debate and free speech.


I digress , my ? is is there a dhc6 in the canadian aviation museum in ottawa..

2 / may I suggest the first 2 canadian operators of the new 400 be named for kenn borek and neil mcdonald. then every canadian operator after that for a operator of the dhc6 ie grant smith/ ivey 's in kenora etc. a modern day legacy to those who have contributed much to the awesome history and lore of the TWATTER .

well once again great to see things are looking up for the future of aircraft production in canada. big kudos to those busting a gut,sweating the financials to make it happen .

Yes there is.

[Hawkerflyer]

Would love to see the old timers figure this one out..."what's a computer?" lol

[SierraPoppa]

It has been called a twatter for longer than 40 yrs. 25yrs before political correctness sucked the life out of intelligent debate and free speech.

Sorry respectfully disagree.

TWOTTER is the correct term, TWin OTTER.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&clien ... dh6&nfpr=1

Case closed.

[200hr Wonder]

Here she is in CYKA this afternoon in her new colours. The Canadian reg is just a sticker over top of the permanent Swiss reg. Hence half the Swiss flag is cut off.

[cyeg66]

Nice to see MJO making forward progress. He'd attempted to leave CYBW via Banff and then, due weather, the South passage but had to turn back, due weather/icing, but only after wasting a few hours in the air. Nice job not giving in to "get-there-itis". Get 'er home safely...

[Mihai]

question... why doesn't it have deicing boots?