DND photo

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.

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.