View Single Post
Old 02-02-2020, 03:01 PM   #43
Rupert
 
Rupert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
Default Re: Seaplanes or Amphibious Aircraft for Caribbean Adventuring and Logistics

Quote:
Originally Posted by Icelander View Post
Edit: Holy *beep*, there is a significant price difference between even well-used DHC-2s and perfectly operational An-2Vs or other float-equipped An-2s. As in, you can get the An-2s for $30,000-$50,000, while the DHC-2 Beavers tend to cost $500,000+. This tells me that while Kessler is happy to arrange for as many fly-by-night operators flying An-2s as the logistics require, even if he'll have to finance it personally out of pocket, he'll want to have some ostensibly legitimate reason for a slightly more legitimate company to own the DHC-2s, so they count as business expenses and don't drain his personal assets.
The DHC-2 is/was well-known as being an extremely reliable and capable plane in its class, and it's pretty much the plane everyone had or wanted for wilderness work in places like Canada. While there were a fair number made, it's nothing like the number of An-2s of all kinds that were made and are still flying. FWIW, a DHC-2 probably has lower operational costs, but the repair bills if it breaks will be higher. An-2s are not particularly economical on fuel (or oil, for that matter). Also, the An-2 is not a quiet aircraft - you're never going to be selling luxury rides in it, no matter how nice the seating is.

Quote:
Are the DHC-2s and the DHC-6 hopelessly utilitarian and gauche for roles as planes that take engineers, oceanographers, geologists and other employees of a Texas-based offshore oil and gas company around the Caribbean, as well as being available for VIP and executive junkets, and adventure vacations combining boating, parachuting and diving, etc.?
The DHC-6 is probably good for all of that, the DPC-2 might look a bit low-rent for the VIP junkets. It depends on what the interior decor is, I expect - real leather seats, nice carpet, and a mini-bar go a long way in selling an aircraft as 'executive' rather than 'bush plane'.
__________________
Rupert Boleyn

"A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history."
Rupert is offline   Reply With Quote