The De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, is a series of twin-engine, medium-range, turboprop airliners. It was originally designed and built by De Havilland Canada (DHC) and is now produced by De Havilland Canada (a reincarnation of the original company) after Bombardier sold the Dash 8 program.
Key characteristics of the Dash 8 include:
- Turboprop Engines: It uses propeller-driven turboshaft engines, which are generally more fuel-efficient on shorter routes and at lower altitudes compared to jet engines.
- Regional Aircraft: It's primarily used for regional flights, connecting smaller cities or serving as feeders to larger hubs.
- High Wing: The high-wing configuration provides good ground clearance for the propellers and can offer better visibility for passengers.
- STOL Capabilities (early models): Some early models, particularly the Series 100 and 200, had excellent Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) capabilities, allowing them to operate from shorter runways.
- Series Variants: The Dash 8 has evolved over several series, including:
- Series 100/200: The original smaller variants.
- Series 300: A stretched version with more passenger capacity.
- Series 400 (Q400): A significantly larger, faster, and more advanced variant with active noise and vibration suppression (hence the "Q" for quiet), making it competitive with some regional jets.
The Dash 8 is a workhorse in regional aviation worldwide, known for its reliability and operational flexibility.
