Vazar Aerospace received an STC for their Otter turbine conversion in 1989. Originally marketed as the Vazar Dash 3 Otter, Central Mountain Air was the first to take advantage of the improved performance and reduced operating costs when they flew the number one conversion from 1989 to 1992.

First day of official flying from Lake Hood after the ice had melted so a few of the Rust's Fleet were doing circuits testing out their aircraft. (Canon 40D 250mm)

Arriving on the scheduled service from Lake Union, Seattle.

Built in 1961 and still going strong as it lands in the "Channel" at Lake Hood.

Long serving Otter 57-6136 was delivered to the US Army September 5, 1958. It was transferred to the US Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, AL in August 1971. A year later it went to the US Army Aviation Museum, also at Fort Rucker. Deemed surplus in 1994, it was sold to Sound Flight of Renton, WA as N84SF and later received a Vazar turbine conversion. Sold to Harbour Air March 24, 2003.

Taken on strength by the RCAF as a piston powered Otter December 11, 1953 as 3671 and struck off charge in September 1982. This Otter has been with Kenmore since 2011 when they rebuilt and converted it to turbine.

This DHC-3 gave the Otter a new lease on life. While not the first turbine Otter conversion built, it was the first one to be made commercially available. Starting as Royal Canadian Air Force 3668 delivered December 15, 1953, Vazar replaced the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine with a Pratt & Whitney PT-6A turbine in 1987 and certified the conversion in time to introduce it at the 1988 Abbotsford Air Show. Unfortunately, the aircraft was later destroyed when it was flown up a wrong valley in poor weather on August 18, 1996. The Otter flew into ground that rose faster than it could climb.

Harbour Air Malta operated this 1960 Otter on sightseeing flights and services to Gozo from Malta's Grand Harbour. Operations started in 2007 but ceased in 2012.

Arriving in Victoria. (Nikon D610 + Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED)

Alongside in Vancouver. (Nikon D610 + Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S)

Pictured pictured picking up speed on the Fraser River adjacent to the Water Aerodrome beside YVR's South Terminal.

The autumn sun adds contrast to this view of Rust's Otter splashing down in Lake Hood, trailing ropes and foam. This angle hides most of the 'aesthetic changes' that came with the turbo conversion.

This 1959 build Otter joined Harbour Air September 2011 with a turbine conversion. Pictured with subsidiary Saltspring Air titles.

Delivered to Miron et Frères Ltée in 1954, this Otter would stay in the Province of Quebec until 2007. In 1999, the aircraft began development and certification flying for the Orenda 600 engine. A 600 HP piston V-8 power plant from Orenda Engines was installed and certified in 2000. Orenda decided to concentrate on government contracts after September 11, 2001 and the OE600 project was cancelled in 2003. The Otter sat without an engine until bought by Harbour Air and moved to Vancouver, BC in 2007. After refurbishment and turbine engine conversion, it entered service in 2008

Ex CF-MPP. Operating a schedule from Seattle Lake Union via Kenmore Harbor.

Another former US Army Otter delivered as 57-6114 February 12, 1958. Based in Europe until 1969, it was removed from Army inventory in June 1975. Registered N5325G, the aircraft served with the Civil Air Patrol, Island Airlines and Griffin Flying Service before coming to Canada in 1993, registered C-FQND. It has received a Vazar turbine conversion before coming to Vancouver Island Air in December 2013.

Originally delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1954, this Otter was donated to the Indian Air Force in 1963. Returning to Canada in 1993, it was bought by Kenmore Air in 1995 to be rebuilt and converted to turbine by 1999.

History going back to 1960 as US Army 59-2224, C-GEND sports a version of Harbour Air's new color scheme with a sunburst over the mountains gracing the tail.