De Havilland Canada completes first flight of 1,000th Twin Otter

De Havilland Canada has completed the first flight of the 1,000th DHC-6 Twin Otter built, marking a milestone in the long-running production of the twin-turboprop STOL aircraft.

The aircraft, manufacturer serial number MSN1000, conducted its maiden flight on January 20 in Calgary and is scheduled for delivery to SATENA, Colombia’s state-owned airline. The manufacturer announced the milestone through its social media channels but did not issue a formal press release.

The Twin Otter first flew in 1965 and entered service shortly thereafter, establishing itself as a utility aircraft designed for short takeoff and landing operations. The type has been widely used in regional passenger transport, cargo, medical evacuation and military roles, particularly in remote and austere environments.

Production of the Twin Otter originally ran from 1965 until 1988, before being revived in 2008 after Viking Air acquired the type certificate. The manufacturer later resumed operations under the De Havilland Canada name, and the aircraft remains in production today.

The latest generation of the Twin Otter incorporates modern avionics and systems while retaining its core design features, including fixed landing gear, twin turboprop engines and high-lift wing architecture. Typical passenger configurations seat between 18 and 20 passengers.

SATENA currently operates three Twin Otter aircraft and has three more on order, including MSN1000. The type is used on routes serving remote regions of Colombia, where short runways, challenging terrain and limited infrastructure favor aircraft with strong STOL performance.

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Ricardo Meier

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