DHC-3 Otter FloatplaneDHC 3 Otter floatplane mahogany wood airplane model. Success with the DHC 2 Beaver persuaded de Havilland Canada, in the late 1940s, that there was room in the STOL utility market for a larger version of the Beaver, with cabin space for some 14 passengers or a freight load of up to 2,240 lbs. The company therefore developed the DHC 3 Otter, (which was initially known as the King Beaver). The prototype first flew on December 12, 1951, and the first