Pacific Western Beaver
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Pacific Western Beaver
Looking for someone who'd remember Pacific Western's Beavers from the old days.
Specifically, CF-JHE.
Need to know the story on this airplane.
Do not send the the link to Neil Aird's DHC-2.com. I'm doing this research at his behest.
He lists it as S/N "15R"
This makes no sense.
S/N 15 has family history with me and know what happend to it. It was never reincarnated as "CF-JHE".
The C-GHXN part of the history is correct though. CF-FHA was 'rebuilt' as HXN but never got a Canadian C of A.
Here's the link; just to save everybody from posting it, and - maybe the picture of JHE will jog somebody's memory.
http://www.dhc-2.com/id878.htm
I suspect that Pacific Western bought it brand new and the serial number is a typo.
'48
Specifically, CF-JHE.
Need to know the story on this airplane.
Do not send the the link to Neil Aird's DHC-2.com. I'm doing this research at his behest.
He lists it as S/N "15R"
This makes no sense.
S/N 15 has family history with me and know what happend to it. It was never reincarnated as "CF-JHE".
The C-GHXN part of the history is correct though. CF-FHA was 'rebuilt' as HXN but never got a Canadian C of A.
Here's the link; just to save everybody from posting it, and - maybe the picture of JHE will jog somebody's memory.
http://www.dhc-2.com/id878.htm
I suspect that Pacific Western bought it brand new and the serial number is a typo.
'48
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
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Re: Pacific Western Beaver
'48, Have a look at the AJ Spilsbury Papers. They are avaliable online at the UBC library. From what I can see 15R was CF-GUE registered to Queen Charlotte Airlines??
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Ok thanks "freakonature"- I'll check into that. CF-GUE, maybe later on anyhow, became a Norseman with Northway Aviation Ltd.freakonature wrote:'48, Have a look at the AJ Spilsbury Papers. They are avaliable online at the UBC library. From what I can see 15R was CF-GUE registered to Queen Charlotte Airlines??
The S/N 15"R" does not make sense for a Beaver. DHC-2 serials are straight, sequential production numbers.
'48
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Sure - excellent idea BMC.bmc wrote:Should I put it to the mailing list?

'48
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Although I can't remember his name at this time, I knew the TPA pilot that crashed this plane He was on his last day of flying befor retiring and was killed on this accident. A real shame to end a carreer with an accident on your last day of work. I worked with his Brother-in-law at powell Lake working for PCA in 88-91, now retired.
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
That is a shame.beaverbob wrote:Although I can't remember his name at this time, I knew the TPA pilot that crashed this plane He was on his last day of flying befor retiring and was killed on this accident. A real shame to end a carreer with an accident on your last day of work. I worked with his Brother-in-law at powell Lake working for PCA in 88-91, now retired.
The info I'm after, really I guess is, what was the actual serial number of the machine.
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
I was an engineer with TPA for 10 years and pumped fuel as a kid when PWA owned it and was based in Terrace for years with Doug Chappell as the pilot and Bill Ross was the engineer.
TPA bought out PWA in Rupert we got JHE.The serial number was 15R as I remember it and we had just finished an overhaul about a month before it crashed in the Kildala Pass just out of Kemano.The pilots name was Dale Turcot who had just been checked out on the Beaver a month before.I think Beaverbob is thinking about the TPA Otter that crashed at Shaft Creek on the last flight of that pilot.
It was my understanding that JHE had been rebuilt earlier in PWA days from 2 other beavers.
TPA bought out PWA in Rupert we got JHE.The serial number was 15R as I remember it and we had just finished an overhaul about a month before it crashed in the Kildala Pass just out of Kemano.The pilots name was Dale Turcot who had just been checked out on the Beaver a month before.I think Beaverbob is thinking about the TPA Otter that crashed at Shaft Creek on the last flight of that pilot.
It was my understanding that JHE had been rebuilt earlier in PWA days from 2 other beavers.
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Yes, it was the Otter and I think the pilot was Pat Carrie
Thanks Mosie
Bob
Thanks Mosie
Bob
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Re: Pacific Western Beaver
G'day Folks
The gen I have on Beaver CF-JHE, is that it was indeed serial number 15R.
Pacific Western Airlines started operating the DHC-2 in 1954 (three aircraft). They would go on to operate a total of 22 Beavers, making them the largest commercial operator of the type at the time.
CF-JHE was purchased new by Pacific Western Airlines and commenced flying operations in April of 1956. The aircraft was withdrawn from service with P.W.A. in July, 1968 and subsequently sold to Trans Provincial.
Cheers...Chris
The gen I have on Beaver CF-JHE, is that it was indeed serial number 15R.
Pacific Western Airlines started operating the DHC-2 in 1954 (three aircraft). They would go on to operate a total of 22 Beavers, making them the largest commercial operator of the type at the time.
CF-JHE was purchased new by Pacific Western Airlines and commenced flying operations in April of 1956. The aircraft was withdrawn from service with P.W.A. in July, 1968 and subsequently sold to Trans Provincial.
Cheers...Chris
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Re: Pacific Western Beaver
G'day...again
Trans Provincial operated the following Otters:
C-FKLC
C-FRHW - This aircraft was written off near Smithers, British Columbia on the 12th of June, 1981
C-FRNO - This was an ex-PWA aircraft
CF-ROW - This Otter was written off on the 18th of April, 1967 at Stewart, British Columbia
C-FXUY - It was operated by Gulf Air between 1976 and 1978
Cheers...Chris
Trans Provincial operated the following Otters:
C-FKLC
C-FRHW - This aircraft was written off near Smithers, British Columbia on the 12th of June, 1981
C-FRNO - This was an ex-PWA aircraft
CF-ROW - This Otter was written off on the 18th of April, 1967 at Stewart, British Columbia
C-FXUY - It was operated by Gulf Air between 1976 and 1978
Cheers...Chris
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
I have had some P.M.s which have provided good leads but I have not had time to pursue them yet.
Can anybody explain the "R" in "15R".
Totally unorthodox for DHC to do that.
That airplane is not a real early one either. (Which bodes well for a 'New' purchase by PWA in 1956), I'm saying that only because it's got the 'big' under-scoop and it has a port-hole window, not that those couldn't have been retrofits but for the most part, companies did not carry out those mods in those days very often.
It does not have rudder trim, so that is indicative of being an early one but I'm not sure when that became standard. It may have been an option.
'48
Can anybody explain the "R" in "15R".
Totally unorthodox for DHC to do that.
That airplane is not a real early one either. (Which bodes well for a 'New' purchase by PWA in 1956), I'm saying that only because it's got the 'big' under-scoop and it has a port-hole window, not that those couldn't have been retrofits but for the most part, companies did not carry out those mods in those days very often.
It does not have rudder trim, so that is indicative of being an early one but I'm not sure when that became standard. It may have been an option.
'48
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
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Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Check out where the flap indicator was. It would have been an early one if the flap indicator was in the wing root up by the pilot's left ear instead of on the panel. GYP was sn 145, and that's where it was when I flew it 40 years ago.It does not have rudder trim, so that is indicative of being an early one ..

We (Northern Wings) had the sister ship to RNO, RNP. It crashed down near Blanc Sablon in September 1968.
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
There are no interior pics of it. Not an DHC-2.com, anyhow.Siddley Hawker wrote:Check out where the flap indicator was. It would have been an early one if the flap indicator was in the wing root up by the pilot's left ear instead of on the panel. GYP was sn 145, and that's where it was when I flew it 40 years ago.It does not have rudder trim, so that is indicative of being an early one ..![]()
We (Northern Wings) had the sister ship to RNO, RNP. It crashed down near Blanc Sablon in September 1968.
It's the "R" that's got me baffled.
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Re: Pacific Western Beaver
HS e-mail Larry Milberry, he'll know. Or better yet, I'll do it, I know Larry. I used to have Fred Hotson's e-mail address but I lost it in the great hard disc fry of 2008. Fred wrote the definitive book on deH in Canada.
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
S.H. Good Sir, thank you. Let me know the good word.Siddley Hawker wrote:HS e-mail Larry Milberry, he'll know. Or better yet, I'll do it, I know Larry. I used to have Fred Hotson's e-mail address but I lost it in the great hard disc fry of 2008. Fred wrote the definitive book on deH in Canada.
You know how to find me.

'48
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
- Siddley Hawker
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Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Check your e-mail. In case you check here first, Larry referred me to Neil Aird. 

Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Thanks anyhow, S.H.
'HS

'HS
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
Scoping some earlier DOT Aircraft Registries on CF-JHE :
1964 & 1968 - registered to PWA
1969 - registered to Trans Provincial Airlines....... Serial # on all of these is 15R
1973 to 1984 - not found on any registry
Cheers
1964 & 1968 - registered to PWA
1969 - registered to Trans Provincial Airlines....... Serial # on all of these is 15R
1973 to 1984 - not found on any registry
Cheers
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
This quirey has drawn to a close folks. Been an interesting run and I thank you all for your input. We've got the information I was looking for and concluded beyond all posible doubt that S/N 15 & 15R are indeed different airplanes. Neil Aird has amended his site.
See Below.
Cheers,
'48
http://dhc-2.com/cn15-R.html
CF-JHE Pacific Western Airlines Ltd., Vancouver, BC • Regd 24/07/56
• DHC sold a fuselage to PWA on 22/05/56 for $16,500 • Shipped 20/07/56
• PWA built a new aircraft from this plus wings etc., at their Pat Bay facility
• Inspected 31/08/56 by MoT
• Crashed - overran strip Kettle Valley and flipped over 19/10/64
• Repaired and inspected 05/04/65
• Crashed into side of mountain in the Kildalla Pass between
Kitimat and 20 miles from Kemano while with Trans Provincial 5 people killed 1966
• Reported w/o 24/02/70
• Canx from register 1975
• Disposition unknown •
See Below.
Cheers,
'48
http://dhc-2.com/cn15-R.html
CF-JHE Pacific Western Airlines Ltd., Vancouver, BC • Regd 24/07/56
• DHC sold a fuselage to PWA on 22/05/56 for $16,500 • Shipped 20/07/56
• PWA built a new aircraft from this plus wings etc., at their Pat Bay facility
• Inspected 31/08/56 by MoT
• Crashed - overran strip Kettle Valley and flipped over 19/10/64
• Repaired and inspected 05/04/65
• Crashed into side of mountain in the Kildalla Pass between
Kitimat and 20 miles from Kemano while with Trans Provincial 5 people killed 1966
• Reported w/o 24/02/70
• Canx from register 1975
• Disposition unknown •
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
So did you ever find out what the R was all about? I'd be interested to hear the explanation on that. Don't suppose Viking being the type holder would know?HS-748 2A wrote:It's the "R" that's got me baffled.
Re: Pacific Western Beaver
enbt wrote:So did you ever find out what the R was all about? I'd be interested to hear the explanation on that. Don't suppose Viking being the type holder would know?HS-748 2A wrote:It's the "R" that's got me baffled.
I guess this is the deal. PWA bought only the fuselage from DHC. They then built an airplane from other parts they had. Good winter-worxs project for the boys, likely. M.O.T. or DHC issued the S/N but there was no way to make it sequential with DHC numbers. Maybe is was done elsewhere in the world too, who knows.• DHC sold a fuselage to PWA on 22/05/56 for $16,500 • Shipped 20/07/56
• PWA built a new aircraft from this plus wings etc., at their Pat Bay facility
• Inspected 31/08/56 by MoT
The fastest way to turn money into smoke and noise..