Ultimate Issue: From Radial to Radical

Harbour Air Seaplanes has taken the bold initiative to put electric motors on its de Havilland Beavers fleet.

Monday, August 12, 2024 at 09:00 AM ET

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Based on the experience of the past four years with C-FJOS, Harbour Air has ordered 50 electric propulsion systems from magniX to convert its whole fleet of Beavers and will likely become the first airline to use electric power in scheduled passenger service, possibly by 2026. [Courtesy: Harbor Air Seaplanes/Blago Hristovski]

Key Takeaways:

The DHC-2 Beaver, an iconic and durable bushplane known for its ruggedness and reliability, is now pioneering electric aviation, demonstrating continuous innovation and adaptability.
Harbour Air Seaplanes converted one of its Beavers (C-FJOS) to electric power in 2019, and after successful test flights, plans to electrify its entire fleet for scheduled passenger service by 2026.
This transformation of a vintage aircraft exemplifies the aviation industry's broader shift towards environmental sustainability, with goals like net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, driven by advancements in electric propulsion, sustainable fuels, and design improvements.

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When it rolled out of the de Havilland factory in Toronto in 1956, DHC-2 Beaver registered as CF-JOS was launched into the typical life of the most iconic bushplane ever built. That is to say its life has been anything but typical because it was purpose built to challenge the norms of aviation in the postwar era.

Tough as nails, able to get in and out of small unimproved runways or high mountain lakes, while carrying a ton of freight, ponderously slow and superbly stable, the Beaver led a renaissance in backcountry air service. It also set standards for safety and reliability in the far-flung wilderness of northern North America.