L-402 Bushmaster

The Lockheed L‑402 Bushmaster is a twin‑engine, short‑take‑off and landing (STOL) utility aircraft developed in the early 1970s to meet the growing demand for rugged transport in remote and undeveloped regions. Conceived under the name ‘Project Snowbird’, the Bushmaster made its first flight on 12 May 1973 and entered limited production in 1975. Only 27 airframes were built before the program was terminated in 1979, but the type left a lasting imprint on bush‑flying operations.

Key features include a high‑wing configuration with reinforced aluminum spars, a spacious 12‑person cabin, and a pair of Pratt & Whitney PT6A‑27 turboprop engines delivering 550 shp each. The aircraft’s large, fixed, trailing‑edge flaps and leading‑edge slats generate lift at speeds as low as 45 knots, allowing operation from unprepared strips as short as 650 feet. Robust landing gear with oleo‑shock struts and a corrosion‑resistant undercarriage permit frequent landings on gravel, sand, or snow.

The L‑402’s significance lies in its synthesis of modern turboprop power with classic bush‑plane durability, influencing later designs such as the de Havilland Canada DHC‑6 Twin Otter upgrades and inspiring a renewed interest in versatile, low‑cost regional transports for humanitarian and mining missions worldwide.