Update – DHC 8

De Havilland have built up quite a reputation for building quality aircraft at the right price. With nearly 800 Twin Otters sold and Dash 7 sales heading into triple figures, is it any wonder that the Canadian firm chose to build a smaller brother of the successful Dash 7. In this way, De Havilland Canada will be able to offer an aircraft of true STOL commuter capability in the 20, 32/36 and 50-seat categories a real market plus in this era of the commuter.

What is also significant is that the Canadian Government is now supporting the Dash 8 program which will eventually provide employment for upwards of 3000 skilled tradesmen and provide a rich source of export dollars to the Canadian Government which would otherwise be lost to her American rivals. Take note, Australia!

The Dash 8, like her principal rivals- the Saab Fairchild 340 and the Brasilia- fits a fairly well-documented stereotype. All have new-generation high-efficiency turboprops, all have between 30 and 36 seats and all have a similar operating performance. The Dash 8 is powered by twin Pratt & Whitney of Canada (yet another Canada plus) PT7A-2R turboprops of 1800shp, a feature it shares with the Brasilia. The standard interior is configured for 32 passengers which provides a buffet, toilet and sizeable baggage compartment. With high-speed cruise noted at 260kt and maximum range booked at 1200nm, it is sensible to foresee this aircraft being able, in operation, to match current F-27 schedules if new and more innovative STOL approach and departure procedures were adopted at our major airport’s overall block times could be actually reduced in comparison to the current operations performed by our F-27 fleet.

Range with 32 passengers and maximum payload will be 600nm, while an all-up maximum payload configuration reduces this to 400nm, which means that the Dash 8 will still have a handy operational capacity as an inter-city night freighter. The aircraft is also designed to operate at maximum gross from 3000 ft strips which again opens up many future route possibilities not available to the F-27 class of airliner. In constantly referring back to the Fokker product, I do not wish to appear to be knocking what will ultimately go down in aviation history as one of the greatest aircraft designed in the middle of this century; I merely cite the F-27 as this is the current type almost exclusively operated in the region on routes challenged by this new breed of mini-airliner. The reliable Friendship, by sheer consequence of its success, has now become the benchmark by which to compare the new generation of commuter airliners.

Bush Pilot Airways have already written letters of intent on several Dash 8s and at the time of writing more than 90 similar letters had been posted by no less than 30 carriers worldwide. With the first flight scheduled for mid-1983 and with customer deliveries commencing a year later, we will have to wait a while to see our first example of this new breed of airliner which promises so much for operators and passengers alike.