In Alaska, I would have to vote for the workhorse deHavilland Beaver: Hauling passengers, search dogs, fuel, equipment, ice, supplies, and supporting missions like search and rescue, medevac, recreation, flight-seeing, mining, logging, hunting, commercial fishing, and more.
The Beaver has been the main plane in Alaska for half a century. The slightly more modern Cessna 206s/185s may be right behind it for access into remote villages and communities, but don’t haul quite the payload. The roar of the P&W 985 is a pleasant sound to any one awaiting a ride home or for the U.S. mail to come in.
The Beaver even has its military history designated as a U-6A. It does what the DC-3 does, just on a smaller scale!
JEFF DeFREEST
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