Originally US Army 58-1692, this Otter worked in Alaska as N90575 with Frontier Flying Service 1975 until an accident in 1979. Rebuilt, it emerged as C-GMDG in 1980 for Air Park Aviation to support mining, exploration and (during summer months) fly-in sports fishing camps. Acquired by Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways (Northern Wilderness Outfitters) in April 1985, this long serving aircraft had a Vazar turbine conversion in 1997.

Photo by Michael Macgowan.

Photo by Michael Macgowan.

Photographer unknown - over Toronto area

Photographer unknown - over Toronto area

Photographer: John R. Owen

In 1998 became the prototype for conversion to the Orenda OE-600A engine, a liquid-cooled, 8 cylinder V-block unit which promised to be a more economical alternative to the PT6 turboprop. In 2003 the Orenda Company went out of business; the aircraft was grounded and stored. Bought by Harbour Air in 2008 and taken by truck across Canada, from St. Felicien QC, to Vancouver, BC, for Vazar PT6 conversion. Joined the Harbour Air fleet as Turbine Otter "316", C-GHAZ. Sentimental value for the photographer. This was on the 1994 Silver Wedding North American trip.

Delivered new to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1960 as 9406. Military service included deployment to Lahore, Pakistan in 1965 to support a United Nations operation supervising a cease-fire between Pakistan and India, returning to Canada in 1966. Began civilian life in 1982. When a sale to Colombia fell through, registered to Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways, a company associated with Northern Wilderness Outfitters, in 1984. After substantial damage in a takeoff accident in strong, gusty and variable wind conditions in 1998, rebuilt as a Vazar turbine conversion and re-entered service in 2000.

Lit by a late summer's evening sun as it returns to its Anchorage base. Approaching to land across Lake Hood. Joined Rust's Flying Service only months earlier, in March 1990. Converted to turbine power in 2000.

Only recently arrived for storage on 02 Oct 1978 at MASDC with inventory number 5U0001. It later went onto the civilian register as N0137G and N219JH. Later Converted to a Vazar Dash 3 Turbine Otter with a PT-6 engine and registered C-GCQA on 03 Mar 1998 with North Star Air. It was cancelled from the register on 06 Mar 2012.