De Havilland Aircraft
47 used De Havilland aircraft listings · $97,053–$1,595,626 · last refreshed 2 hours ago
About De Havilland Aircraft Company
De Havilland is one of the most storied names in aviation history, spanning over a century of aircraft production across multiple countries and corporate entities. The original de Havilland Aircraft Company was founded by Geoffrey de Havilland in 1920 in Hertfordshire, England, producing iconic aircraft from the Tiger Moth trainer to the Mosquito fighter-bomber to the Comet — the world's first commercial jetliner. De Havilland Canada (DHC), established in 1928 in Downsview, Ontario, became famous for its STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) utility aircraft. Today, the De Havilland Canada name is owned by Longview Aviation Capital, which acquired the Dash 8 program from Bombardier in 2019. If you are looking for a de Havilland aircraft for sale, you are typically searching for one of the legendary DHC bush planes or the Dash 8 turboprop airliner.
The DHC-2 Beaver, first flown in 1947, is widely regarded as the greatest bush plane ever built. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine (450 HP), the Beaver carries six passengers or 2,100 lbs of cargo from lakes, rivers, gravel bars, and short dirt strips. Only 1,657 were built (production ended in 1967), making surviving examples extremely valuable — good-condition Beavers trade at $500,000-$1.5M depending on configuration and float type. The turbine conversion (Blackhawk or Texas Turbine PT6A installations) adds $300,000-$500,000 to value and is increasingly standard.
The DHC-3 Otter (single radial engine, 10-14 passengers) and DHC-6 Twin Otter (twin PT6A engines, 19 passengers) expanded on the Beaver's bush capability. The Twin Otter is one of the most versatile aircraft ever built — operating on wheels, floats, skis, and tundra tires from runways as short as 1,200 feet. Viking Air restarted Twin Otter production (Series 400) in 2010 with modern PT6A-34 engines and G1000 avionics. The DHC-4 Caribou and DHC-5 Buffalo served military STOL transport roles. The Dash 7 and Dash 8 (Q100/Q200/Q300/Q400) are regional turboprop airliners — the Q400 (now Dash 8-400) seats 74-90 passengers and serves airlines worldwide.
Buying a used de Havilland bush plane is unlike any other aircraft market. These are not depreciating assets — Beavers and early Twin Otters have appreciated in value over the past two decades due to fixed supply and growing demand from tour operators, lodges, and bush operators. Key inspection items for Beavers: wing spar condition, float attachment fitting corrosion, R-985 engine cylinder compression and oil consumption (or verify PT6A conversion quality). Twin Otter values range from $1M-$5M for legacy models and $5M-$10M for Viking Series 400s. Float condition, corrosion proofing, and PT6A engine time between overhauls are the primary value drivers.
De Havilland Aircraft for Sale
Price $97,053–$1,595,626
De Havilland Aircraft Price & Cost
How much does a De Havilland aircraft cost? Current pricing for used De Havilland aircraft (also known as De Havilland choppers or De Havilland helis) is broken down per model in the table below — covering acquisition price, hourly operating cost and overhaul cost.
| Type | Model | Used price range | Op cost / hr | Annual fixed | Overhaul cost | Listings for sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Engine Piston | $595,000–$595,000 | — | — | — | 4 | |
| Single Engine Piston | $97,053–$115,691 | — | — | — | 2 | |
| Single Engine Piston | $325,000–$1,595,626 | $250 | $35,000/yr | $50,000 | 24 | |
| Multi Engine Piston | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| Multi Engine Piston | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| Multi Engine Turboprop | $1,365,000–$1,365,000 | — | — | — | 15 |
The cost of a De Havilland aircraft depends on model, year, hours flown, avionics and condition. See operating costs and pre-buy checklist in the About section, or open a specific model page for a detailed price guide.
De Havilland Models
Single Engine Piston
Multi Engine Piston
De Havilland Models — Specifications
Model spec| Model | Years | Seats | Cruise | Range | Useful load | Listings for sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934–1937 | 10 | — | — | — | 1 | |
| — | 8 | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 1947–now | — | — | — | — | 4 | |
| 1946–1967 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | |
| 1946–1996 | 6 | 109 kts (202 km/h) | 395 nm (732 km) | — | 22 | |
| DHC-2 | 1948–1967 | 6 | 109 kts (202 km/h) | 395 nm (732 km) | — | 11 |
| DHC-2 MK I | 1947–1967 | — | — | — | — | 9 |
| DHC-2T | 1946–1996 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 1969–now | — | — | — | — | 9 | |
| DHC-6-300 | 1969–1988 | 20 | 182 kts (337 km/h) | 700 nm (1,296 km) | — | 4 |
| DHC-6-400 | 2010–now | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions — De Havilland
How much does a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver cost?
The de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver is arguably the most iconic bush plane ever built. Restored, airworthy Beavers command premium prices: $300,000-$600,000 for standard versions, with floatplane-equipped and turbine-converted examples reaching $800,000-$1.2 million. Original piston Beavers from the 1950s in flying condition are increasingly collectible. The Beaver remains the gold standard for backcountry float operations in Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest — demand consistently outpaces the dwindling supply of airworthy airframes.
Is de Havilland Canada still making the Twin Otter?
Yes. De Havilland Canada (formerly Viking Air) restarted Twin Otter production as the DHC-6 Series 400, and in 2023 began production of the new DHC-6 Classic 300-G. A new Series 400 costs approximately $7.5 million. Used Twin Otters (DHC-6-300) average around $856,000, with well-restored examples reaching $1.5 million. The Twin Otter remains essential for commuter airlines, bush operations, and remote area access — its STOL capability and ability to operate on wheels, floats, or skis is unmatched.
What is the best de Havilland bush plane?
The DHC-2 Beaver is the classic bush plane — legendary for its STOL performance, load-carrying ability, and float operations. The DHC-3 Otter is the bigger brother, carrying more passengers and cargo. The DHC-6 Twin Otter adds twin-engine safety for commercial operations. For pure bush flying on floats, the Beaver is the sentimental favorite and most sought-after. For commercial operations, the Twin Otter dominates. Many de Havilland bush planes have been converted to turbine engines (PT6A) for improved reliability and performance.
Why are de Havilland aircraft so valuable?
De Havilland Canada bush planes (Beaver, Otter, Twin Otter) command premium prices because they are irreplaceable — no other manufacturer builds aircraft with equivalent STOL and float capability. The original Beaver production ended in 1967, so the remaining airworthy fleet is finite and shrinking. Each aircraft that crashes or is retired increases the value of survivors. Turbine conversions (replacing original piston engines with PT6A turboprops) add $200,000-$400,000 to the value but extend useful life by decades. These aircraft are as much working tools as collectible assets.
De Havilland Inventory by Country
| United States | 45 |
| Canada | 22 |
| United Kingdom | 15 |
| Germany | 4 |
| New Zealand | 4 |
| Indonesia | 3 |
Recently Sold De Havilland
| 1955 DHC-2 | $429,000 |
| DH-84 | $203,740 |
| 1939 Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth | $107,031 |