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On June 14, 1996, it was 50 years ago that the Fairchild F 11 Husky took to the air for the first time. Over the years Canada has produced a number of successful bush planes like the Noorduyn Norseman, de Havilland Canada DHC - 2 Beaver and DHC - 3 Otter. With the exception of operators and pilots who flew it, few people have heard of that other Canadian bush plane, the Fairchild Husky.
The Husky was a relatively large aircraft with a distinctive upswept rear fuselage. It has been compared to a pregnant fish or called a "guppy". It was designed and built in Longueuil, Quebec. The aircraft was especially designed to transport goods over difficult terrain at the lowest possible operating cost. It was symbolically named after the hard working "husky" dogs, pulling the sleds. At one time, these dogsleds were the only means of transportation in the north. Now the "Husky" aircraft would become the symbol of modern - day transportation over rigorous terrain.
The Husky project had started early in 1945, resulting from enquiries from northern operators regarding Fairchild's plans to re - commence the manufacture of their famous pre - war Fairchild 71 and 82 models. However, the tools for these aircraft were not available any more. They were either unusable or had been destroyed during the intervening years. This led the company to consider building a completely new aircraft utilizing the new technologies of the day. From the time the project was officially launched until the airplane's first flight, was a little less than 10 months. This included building the production tools which were to be capable of producing three aircraft per month.
On June 14, 1946, the Husky prototype made its first flight, flown by chief pilot Arch M. "Mac" McKenzie. Certification was obtained in September, 1946 at 6,300 lbs. The skiplane version was certified in January, 1947 at a gross weight of 6,500 lbs. with a tail ski.
The Husky was a strut - braced, high - wing monoplane, following the conventional pattern for successful bush aircraft. It was all metal with a conventional stressed skin fuselage, but incorporated fabric covered wings, elevators, and rudder. The aircraft was powered by a 450 h.p. Pratt & Whitney...