To celebrate 150 years of Confederation 鈥� and Harbour Air Seaplanes鈥� 35th anniversary 鈥� two iconic Canadian aircraft have been painted in

Canada鈥檚 official colours and will be adorned with the official Canada 150 logo.

The de Havilland Otter and de Havilland Beaver, bush planes that opened up the country, will begin scheduled flights today. Both aircraft are part of Harbour Air鈥檚 fleet of 50+ seaplanes that now fly more than 425,000 people every year.

鈥淭he Otter and Beaver are iconic in aviation and Canadian history,鈥� said Greg McDougall, the CEO of Harbour Air, North America鈥檚 largest seaplane airline. 鈥淭he Beaver, first flown in 1947, and Otter, which took its first flight in 1952, were designed and manufactured in

Canada.

鈥淲e still fly these aircraft today at Harbour Air, a testament to their reliability and Canada鈥檚 excellence in aviation,鈥� added McDougall, a former bush pilot himself. 鈥淲e thought it was only fitting to mark Canada鈥檚 150th by honouring the Otter and Beaver, the two aircraft that opened up and united this vast country 鈥� and helped Harbour Air build an airline.鈥�

Harbour Air today operates 38 upgraded de Havilland Otters and Beavers, fleet-wide. Harbour Air鈥檚 two Canada 150 planes will keep their colours well after July 1st, to remind Canadians of the aircraft鈥檚 unique history and service record.

The Otter is among the aircraft on the Comox-Vancouver harbour to harbour route. See accompanying chart for the Comox-Vancouver depart/arrival times.