PlaneFox tracks 2 De Havilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A De Havilland DHC-3 Otter flies about 832 nm, roughly 1,541 km, which is about 6 h 56 min in still air at typical cruise.
The De Havilland DHC-3 Otter is a single engine, high wing STOL utility aircraft developed in Canada as a larger follow on to the DHC-2 Beaver. It first flew in 1951, with production running from 1952 to 1967. About 466 were built for civil and military operators, including the U.S. Army designation U-1A.
Its significance is rooted in remote access work: bush flying, floatplane service, cargo hauling, survey, medevac and mixed passenger operations. The DHC-3 Otter is valued for its large cabin, rugged fixed landing gear, strong low speed handling and ability to operate on wheels, skis, floats or amphibious floats.
The DHC-3 Otter typically seats one pilot and up to 10 or 11 passengers, or can be configured for freight, stretchers or combi use. The cabin is practical rather than refined, with large doors, a flat floor and dimensions suited to bulky loads in remote operations.
Original aircraft were delivered with analog instrumentation, and the fleet shows wide variation today. Typical upgrades include Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, modern audio panels, ADS-B transponders, satellite tracking, digital engine monitors and updated comm radios. Integrated suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical factory equipment for this aircraft.
Prospective buyers should evaluate total time, corrosion history, float or saltwater exposure, landing gear or float fittings, fabric and control surface condition, engine time, propeller status, logbook continuity and compliance with applicable airworthiness directives and STCs. Payload on the actual equipment list is especially important, since floats, amphibious gear and turbine conversions can materially change empty weight.
Common market distinctions include piston versus turbine aircraft, wheel versus float or amphibious configuration, cargo door and cabin modifications, avionics modernization and operator history. In the used market, the De Havilland DHC-3 Otter occupies a specialized utility category: older and maintenance intensive, but highly capable where short field access, water operations and meaningful cabin volume are central requirements.