for conducting search and rescue missions. For some decades, the United States Navy has operated a pair of DHC-2s at the United States Naval Test Pilot School, where they are used to instruct students in the evaluation of lateral-directional flying qualities and for the towing of gliders. In recent years, growing numbers of the type have been used within the leisure industry, being used for pleasure flight and as lifting platforms for skydiving and aerial film activities. The DHC-2 Beaver has been used by skydiving operators due to its good climb rate. When fitted with a roller door that can be opened in flight, it can quickly ferry eight skydivers to . Variants Single-engined STOL utility transport aircraft. Beaver AL Mk 1 STOL utility transport aircraft for the British Army. C-127 original designation for DHC-2 aircraft used by the U.S. military, redesignated L-20. YL-20 Test and evaluation aircraft for the US military. L-20A Beaver STOL utility transport aircraft for the U.S. Army, later redesignated U-6A in 1962, 968 built. L-20B Beaver Basically similar to the L-20A, but with minor equipment changes. Six were sold to the US Army. Later redesignated U-6B in 1962. U-6AUS Army L-20A aircraft re-designated U-6BUS Army L-20B aircraft re-designated Beaver II One aircraft was fitted with an Alvis Leonides radial piston engine. Wipaire Super Beaver Conversion of surplus US Army and USAF L-20 Beavers. Wipaire Boss Turbo-Beaver Turbo conversion fitted with PT-6 but retaining the original lower curved fin shape Powered by a 431 kW (578 ehp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 or -20 turboprop engine. Airtech Canada DHC-2/PZL-3S After-market conversion by Airtech Canada in the 1980s, using current-production PZL-3S radial engines of 600 hp (450 kW). Volpar Model 4000 A 1970s conversion by Volpar, first flown in April 1972 with a modified nose fitted with an AiResearch TPE331-2U-203 turboprop with a three-bladed propeller. Other changes included a new fin and rudder. Turbo Beaver Remanufactured Beavers by Viking Air, upgraded with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engine. Operators Civil The DHC-2 is popular with air charter companies, police forces and small air taxi operators as well as private individuals and companies. Both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Finnish Border Guard operate the aircraft. Military operators Argentine Air Force Argentine Naval Aviation Royal Australian Air Force – Five in service 1955–1964. Antarctic Flight RAAF No. 1 Air Trials Unit Austrian Air Force Burma Air Force