After three years of development, the first Viking-built Series 400 Twin Otter took her maiden flight in the skies above Calgary on February 16th, 2010, creating a momentous occasion for all of the employees, suppliers, and supporters who helped get the production program (and the aircraft itself) off the ground.
MSN 845, named "Mikey" in honour of Viking CFO Michael J. Orr who sadly passed away prior to the first flight, was the first Twin Otter built since the original De Havilland production line was shut down in 1988 after completion of MSN 844.
Viking President & CEO, David Curtis, flew in the right seat on the inaugural flight that, while uneventful, marked a significant milestone in Viking's history; it was a physical representation of how determination, leadership, and teamwork combined to create something remarkable.
MSN 845 was delivered to Zimex Aviation (a well-established legacy Twin Otter operator) at the Farnborough International Air Show in July 2010, just two weeks after Viking received Series 400 Production Program certification from Transport Canada.
The initial flight and delivery of MSN 845, the first Viking-built Series 400 Twin Otter, were symbolic steps in a production program that would greatly impact the aerospace industry in Western Canada, and enrich Twin Otter operations around the globe.