Last year’s announcement by Viking Air (Hall 4 Stand C14B) of its plans to launch its new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 into production triggered an immediate response from operators of older models and potential new customers from around the world.
The de Havilland Canada Twin Otter was first introduced to the aviation market in 1966 and within nearly 20 years, some 844 models had been built. More than 600 remain in operation today.
Having acquired the type certificates of the de Havilland Canada model range from the DHC-1 through DHC-7, Viking quickly became established as a reliable source for spares but soon became aware of the demand for used Twin Otters. That encouraged the company to re-launch production of the 19-seat STOL aircraft after securing sufficient investment and customer orders. But the Series 400 aircraft would not be an exact replica of the 1960s design, as Viking took the opportunity to develop a lighter, modernized version of its predecessor.
More In Aircraft
