Which Beaver is Better

[pelmet]

Do float operators prefer the straight floats or the amphib?

[Tbayer2021]

I can probably count with one hand how many working amphib beavers I saw during my time throughout Northern Canada.

[piperdriver]

Commercial ops definitely prefer Straight floats. The OMNR does run the turbo beaver on wipline 6000 amphibs but it absolutely destroys the useful load. A piston beaver on a set of tight edo 4930’s is a sweet set-up.

[enbt]

An amphib gets you twice the maintenance and half the load vs the same plane on straight floats. If you are trying to make money, straight floats is the way to go. Amphibs are for private guys or government.

[ChrisB]

Can get upgrossed to 5600lbs on the whip amphibs which is comparable useful load to a stock beaver. Can get the uprgoss with or without the amphibs tho. Has a very niche market where theyre worth the weight.

[PilotDAR]

Any amphibious floatplane is a compromise. The negatives usually outweigh the benefits for any commercial operation where payload and operating cost are considerations. With amphibs, useful load will be reduced, complexity and maintenance cost increased, and insurance greatly increased. Benefits of amphibs include the possibility to land at airports for fuel (but commercial floatplane operators have this figured out already), and the practicality of night flying if an airport is the destination.

I've known more than one private owner who owned both a landplane, and a straight floatplane, because the overall cost was not greater than owning an amphibian.

A straight floatplane Beaver is better for commercial operations, an amphibian Beaver may be better for a private operator who can afford the extra cost, and sacrifice useful load for increased versatility. This is particularly the case if that owner wants to base the airplane at an airport, rather than on the water, and fly at night, or IFR. And, amphibians tied down or hangared don't take on water in the floats, or skuzz on the float bottoms!

[fish4life]

I have noticed a lot more amphib caravans though so the economics on that airplane must make more sense.

[Smilin' Jack]

This thread is disappointing. Not what I thought it was about at all.

[PilotDAR]

This thread is disappointing. Not what I thought it was about at all

A few posts had been disappointing, but discussing the venerable airplane is welcomed here! I'm a fan of the deHavilland Beaver, though I have only flown four of them...

[Roundel Randy]

Are we talking about just planes?

[C-FDPB]

I have flown 10 different beavers with a vast array of different mods, 4580, 4930, 6000 floats, 2 vs 3 blade, straight wing vs stol kits and vgs, cabin extension vs none. In my opinion a 2 blade prop with the -12 blades is best performance paired with 4930s. They are the best floats for the machine. Hatches are nice and a cabin extension is really handy depending on the aircraft mission. Personal vs charter vs fishing outpost work etc. I have flown the baron stol kit both with and without the wing angle mod. Still prefer the straight wing.
Just my 2 cents.