AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 56

Large bubble windows have been added to Kenmore Air’s Otters giving passengers a panoramic view of everything from mountains to Orca whales (above). Cargo for flights in a 1960s contract with the U.S. Navy included test torpedoes lashed to the floats (right).

SPECSHEET
1953 de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver N6781L s/n 788 Specifications
Powerplant ..........Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Jr., 450 hp Length.................................... 32 ft 9 in Height .................................... 10 ft 5 in Wingspan ...................................... 48 ft Wing area ............................... 250 sq ft Empty weight ........................... 3,467 lb Max takeoff weight.... 5,600 lb with STC (stock 5,090 lb) Max useful load ........................ 2,133 lb Payload w/ full fuel ...................1,563 lb Fuel capacity ............................... 95 gal (35 front, 35 center, 25 rear)

Performance
Takeoff distance over 50 ft sailboat mast ................................................ 1,610 ft Landing distance over 50 ft sailboat mast ................................................. 1,510 ft Rate of climb at max power...... 920 fpm, 740 fpm @ max continuous power Range.... 405 miles, 3.5 hours, 110 mph

Recommended Airspeeds
VX .............................................. 80 mph V Y .............................................. 95 mph VA ............................................ 125 mph VFE ........................................... 105 mph VS1 ............................................. 60 mph

For 45 years the de Havilland Canada DHC–2 Beaver has served as the workhorse of the Kenmore Air fleet. Designed as a floatplane from the outset, the Beaver made its first flight on August 16, 1947. In the skies over Seattle, a Beaver on floats is as common as any airplane you’ll see. In addition to those operated by Kenmore, there are several privately owned Beavers in the area and another seaplane air taxi service operates a small fleet of DHC–2s as well. Sixty-four years after the first flight, we’re ready to depart. The supercharged engine is limited to 36.5 inches of manifold pressure on takeoff for 60 seconds, but with miles of water in front of us and lots of neighbors, we keep it at 33 inches. Even during full-power takeoffs, Kenmore’s quieter three-blade-propeller STC means the ear-splitting Beavers of the early days are forgotten. With the yoke in my lap, the Beaver reels back on its floats as it accelerates. Moments later it reaches its high point and I relax the back-pressure to find the optimum spot on the step. “Your work is done,” Gowey says. “Just hold it right there.” Moments later we’re airborne. With just two on board (there is seating for seven, six passengers plus pilot) the Beaver gets off the water quickly. The power is pulled back to 30 inches and 2,000 rpm as we climb at 80 miles per hour. “Eighty is kind of the magic number for this airplane,” Gowey says. “You make your approaches at 80, you climb at 80 for VX, it just does things at 80.” For its size and reputation as a load hauler, the Beaver is surprisingly light on the controls. Or at least on the ailerons

and elevator. The rudder, which must be used faithfully, takes a bit more effort. After a handful of takeoffs and landings, we climb to 2,500 feet and make the short hop over to Lake Sammamish for some air work. In cruise the Beaver can have a slightly nose-high attitude. By pumping the flaps down just a degree or two, the airplane levels off. ”You can pick up a knot or two with that little trick,” Gowey explains. Kenmore typically cruises at 28 inches and 1,900 rpm. That yields a cruise speed between 105 and 110 mph, Gowey says. The Pratt & Whitney powerplant was actually a late change in the original design. A lighter, less powerful, 330-horsepower Gipsy Queen engine was the first choice. The late addition of the heavier R-985 is what gives the Beaver its short-nose appearance, and is a key factor in its heavy-hauling STOL success. Stalls are typical of many STOL aircraft, with the airspeed needle dropping to the bottom of the indicator. There is a small amount of buffeting just before a mild break at 40 mph indicated in the landing configuration. After a few stalls and with the power pulled back, we make a power-off descent to Lake Sammamish. Best glide occurs at 92 mph. With landing flaps deployed, the nose is pitched down noticeably and with a flare close to the water, the airplane can be held at a slight nose-high attitude until the water is felt through the floats. The Beaver POH doesn’t give degrees for the flaps settings, but takeoff is roughly at 30 degrees, landing is about 45, and full flaps are nearly 60 degrees. The POH does say full flaps are only to be used for emergency landings “in very

KENMORE AIR (1)

AOPA PILOT •

56 • NOVEMBER

2011



AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: The Doctor Doesn’t Need to Be In
Where Flying is ‘Still Fun
At the Controls
Walking Back On
Rally GA: Flight for Survival
AOPA Aviation Summit 2011: Happy in Hartford
We Have a Winner!
2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Sweepstakes: Hard Work in Wild Places
AOPA in the States: The 5-Percent Solution
Challenges: Powerless Flight
Technique: Pilots Are Pessimists...and Optimists
Avionics: Garmin’s aera
Dogfight: NDB Approaches
Never Again
Fly-Outs
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Rally GA: The Doctor Doesn’t Need to Be In
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Where Flying is ‘Still Fun
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - At the Controls
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Walking Back On
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Rally GA: Flight for Survival
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - AOPA Aviation Summit 2011: Happy in Hartford
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - We Have a Winner!
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Sweepstakes: Hard Work in Wild Places
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - AOPA in the States: The 5-Percent Solution
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Challenges: Powerless Flight
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Technique: Pilots Are Pessimists...and Optimists
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Avionics: Garmin’s aera
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Dogfight: NDB Approaches
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Fly-Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - Cover4
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