Inland Aircraft Fleet
Inland Air Charters Ltd. operates two types of aircraft: the DeHavilland Beaver C-2 and Cessna 180. All of our planes are equipped with floats and have been selected for our operations because they are well suited to the coastal conditions in which we fly. We are providing general information about these aircraft for interested readers.
The De Havilland Beaver
The De Havilland Beaver is an icon of Canadas bush country, and was purpose-built in Canada for operation in rugged and remote areas. Their practical durability has earned them acceptance in some 60 countries around the globe. More Beavers were built in Canada than any other aircraft, and in 1987, the Canadian Engineering Centennial Board named the DHC-2 Beaver as one of Canada's ten most important engineering achievements in the 20th century.
The Beaver, a reliable, single-engine monoplane, is known for its short take-off and landing capability, even with a full payload. It can be fitted with wheels, skis or floats. The plane was in production from 1948 until 1967 and 1,657 Beavers were manufactured. Although the Beaver is currently out-of-production, hundreds of these aircraft are still in daily use.
Viking Air, located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada manufactures replacement parts and in 2006 acquired the exclusive right to manufacture new Beavers. There is speculation that production of the DHC-2 Beaver may restart.
Today, a Beaver that originally sold in the 1950s for under US $50,000 can now be seen for sale at prices reaching $500,000 USD.
General Characteristics
- Crew: One Pilot
- Capacity: 6 Passengers
- Length: 30 ft 3 in (9.22 m)
- Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
- Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
- Wing area: 250 ft= (23.2 m=)
- Empty: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
- Loaded: 5,100 lb (2,310 kg)
- Useful load: 1,200 lb (544 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Jr. radial engine, 450 hp (335 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 158 mph (255 km/h)
- Range: 455 miles (732 km)
- Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,020 ft/min (5.2 m/s)
Cessna
Known as the Skywagon, the Cessna 180 is a light, piston-driven utility aircraft. Although it is no longer in production, many of these "workhorses" are still in use and are favoured for bush flying around the world. Our three-windowed machine is float-equipped, and along with the pilot, we prefer to carry only two passengers for maximum sightseeing comfort.
Construction
The Cessna all-metal airframe is constructed of aluminum alloy. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure with exterior skin sheets riveted to formers and longerons. Strut-braced wings are constructed of exterior skin sheets riveted to spars and ribs. Our machine is powered by a 230 hp Continental O-470-K and our machine features three side windows.
The Cessna 180s can be put on floats when they are equipped with factory-installed float kits, which are essentially reinforcing members installed at high-stress points of the fuselage. Float-kitted Cessna 180s produced between 1975 and 1981 have the larger dorsal fin of the 185.
About the manufacturer
In 1911, Clyde Cessna, a Kansas farmer, built and flew the first wood-and-fabric plane between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. In 1924, he partnered with Lloyd C. Stearman and Walter H. Beech to form the Wichita-based Travelair, Inc. to manufacture biplanes. Mr. Cessna left in 1927 and formed the Cessna Aircraft Company to focus on building monoplanes. That company closed in 1932 due to the Depression, and reopened in 1934 under the leadership of brothers, Dwane and Dwight Wallace.
The company produced various aircraft after World War II, and during the boom years of the 1960-70s, Cessna became the most widely produced light aircraft in history, and by a 2008 count had delivered more than 190,000 airplanes.
In 1985, the company was purchased by General Dynamics Corporation, which in 1986 suspended production of the piston-engine aircraft. In 1992, Textron Inc. bought the company and resumed production of the piston-driven 172, 182 and 206 designs.
Today, Cessna produces two, four and six-place single-engine airplanes, utility turboprops, and business jets. The recent economic slow-down has resulted in layoffs in plants manufacturing single-engined Cessnas
General Characteristics
- Crew: One Pilot
- Capacity: 3 Passengers (5 on later models, if optional child seats are installed in baggage area)
- Length: 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.98 m)
- Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
- Wing area: 174 ft² (16 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 2412
- Empty: 1,520 lb (690 kg)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 2,550 lb (1,158 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 X Continental O-470-K (230 hp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 184 mph (161 knots)
- Maximum speed: 165 mph (144 knots)
- Cruise speed: 157 mph (137 knots)
- Stall speed: 59 mph (51 knots)
- Range: 779 miles (1,246 knots)
- Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,098 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (350 m/min)