Role Turboprop regional airliner
National origin Canada
Manufacturer de Havilland Canada (1983–1992)
Bombardier Aerospace (1992–2019)
De Havilland Canada (2019–present)
First flight June 20, 1983
Introduction 1984 with NorOntair
Status In production
Primary users QantasLink WestJet Encore
Air Canada Express
PAL Airlines
Widerøe
Produced 1983–2005 (-100)
1995–2009 (-200)
1989–2009 (-300)
1999–present (-400)
Number built 1,258 (as of March 31, 2019)
Developed from de Havilland Canada Dash 7
Three sizes were offered: initially the 37–40 seat -100 until 2005 and the more powerful -200 from 1995, the stretched 50–56 seats -300 from 1989, both until 2009, and the 68–90 seats -400 from 1999, still in production. The QSeries are post-1997 variants fitted with active noise control systems.
In the 1970s, de Havilland Canada had invested heavily in its Dash 7 project, concentrating on STOL and short-field performance, the company's traditional area of expertise. Using four medium-power engines with large, four-bladed propellers resulted in comparatively lower noise levels, which combined with its excellent STOL characteristics, made the Dash 7 suitable for operating from small in-city airports, a market DHC felt would be compelling. However, only a handful of air carriers employed the Dash 7, as most regional airlines were more interested in operational costs than short-field performance.
In 1980, de Havilland responded by dropping the short-field performance requirement and adapting the basic Dash 7 layout to use only two, more powerful engines. Its favoured engine supplier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, developed the new PW100 series engines for the role, more than doubling the power from its PT6. Originally designated the PT7A-2R engine, it later became the PW120. When the Dash 8 rolled out on April 19, 1983, more than 3,800 hours of testing had been accumulated over two years on five PW100 series test engines. The Dash 8 first flight was on June 20, 1983.
Ceiling
Combat RANGE
Aircraft Speed
Max Crew
High speed cruise | 289 kn (535 km/h; 333 mph) -100: 270 kn (500 km/h; 310 mph) |
|
---|---|---|
Ceiling | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) | |
Range | 1,125 nmi (2,084 km; 1,295 mi) -100: 1,020 nmi (1,889 km; 1,174 mi) |
In 1986, Boeing bought the company in a bid to improve production at DHC's Downsview Airport plants, as well as better position itself to compete for a new Air Canada order for large intercontinental airliners.
Bombardier aimed to produce the Q400 more economically. A deal with its machinists union in June 2017
The Dash 8 is a turboprop airliner designed by De Havilland Canada. It shares engines and avionics with many other airplane types.