Bombardier Dash 8 (DHC-8 / Q-Series)

History

The twin-engine Bombardier "Dash 8" (Q series) was developed by de Havilland Canada (DHC) as an extension of the previous four-engine "Dash 7" series. The Dash 7 itself appeared in the 1970s (from the DHC-6 "Twin Otter") to meet market demand for a regional airliner with inherently superior short-field performance, allowing it to access many of the region's metropolitan airports. However, it turned out that there was not much demand for this specialized product in the market, so the company focused on the advantages of the Dash 7 (namely economy, low noise, low fuel consumption) and converted it into a completely new design.

Twin-engine Dash 8 (DHC-8).

Work began in the late 1970s and continued into the early 1980s when Pratt & Whitney Canada supplied the same all-new engine "PW120" turboprop. First flown as a prototype on June 20, 1983, the series was introduced in 1984 by launch customer NorOntair.

Production of the Dash 8 has continued since then, bringing the total to over 1,225.

NOTE: Following Bombardier's acquisition of de Havilland Canada in 1992, this aircraft is now sold/produced under the Bombardier brand label.

The design of the Dash 8 is based on a floor plan and includes a sleek tubular fuselage with a flight deck overlooking the nose and a T-shaped wing assembly aft. The key to short-field deployment is the high wing (providing good lift and drag), and the excellent range comes from the use of turboprop engines. Each wing has a Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop engine mounted below, driving a multi-blade propeller unit. The nacelle also houses the main landing gear legs, while the short legs are located under the nose for ground travel.

While the earlier Dash 8 brand featured a traditional "steam gauge" style cockpit, the more modern iteration, the Q400 series, features a sleek glass digital cockpit instrument panel. The two pilots sat side by side.

The Dash family of aircraft is divided into four different models, starting with the 100-series (Q100). This includes the original 1984 DHC-8-100 passenger tug, as well as the DHC-8-101, DHC-8-102/-102A, DHC-8-103 and DHC-8-106 (each with a different engine mount ) . The DHC-8M-100 became a maritime surveillance platform, the Canadian military versions were the CC-142 and CT-142. The E-9A "Widget" is a US Air Force radar-equipped range control model.

100 series saw production reached 299 units.

The 200 series (Q200) introduced the PWC PW123 engine for better overall performance, including the DHC-8-201, DHC-8-202 and Q200 models. 200 series saw production reached 105 units.

Series 300 (Q300) with longer fuselage and PW123, PW123B or PW123E engines, including DHC-8-301, DHC-8-311, DHC-8-314 and DHC-8-315. The DHC-8-300A is the DHC-8-300 with an increased payload.

The DHC-8-300 MSA was developed as a maritime surveillance model and the RO-6A is a US Army reconnaissance version based on the DHC-8-315 (PW123E engine). The Q300 marked the DHC-8-300 aircraft with ANVS. 300 series saw production reached 267 units.

A more modern Dash 8 product is the DHC-8-400 series / 400 series (Q400). These are primarily personnel transports and include the DHC-8-400, DHC-8-401 and DHC-8-402. DHC-8 MPA-D8 is a maritime patrol model and DHC-8-402PF is a cargo handling vehicle.

The Q400 marks an improved form factor and elongated body, while the Q400NextGen itself is a line improvement. The Q400-MR is used in the firefighting role and the Q400CC is a combination tugboat that can be converted into a personnel or cargo transport role as required.

The range can be configured internally for 50, 74, 82 or 90 passengers in a single-aisle layout.

Numerically, the 400 series was the most successful of the series, with 554 produced and dozens more on order (2017).

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

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Performance

Performance

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Changes