De Havilland Canada Dash 8

The De Havilland Canada Dash 8 is a family of twin-engine turboprop regional airliners introduced in 1984. Its variants serve short-haul routes, with the Q Series adding noise-reduction technology.

Connect

Turboprop: An aircraft powered by a gas-turbine engine that drives a propeller through a reduction gearbox. The Dash 8’s engines use propellers to deliver efficient thrust at regional-airliner speeds.
Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120: A turboprop engine in the PW100 family used on early Dash 8 variants. It is among the engines fitted to the smaller Dash 8 models.
de Havilland Canada DHC-7: A four-engine regional turboprop designed for short takeoffs and landings, produced by de Havilland Canada. The Dash 8 followed the DHC-7 with a twin-engine design aimed at broader airline use.
Air Canada Express: The regional airline brand used by Air Canada’s partner carriers for short-haul services. Dash 8 aircraft have operated regional routes under this brand.
Aircraft noise: Sound generated by aircraft engines and aerodynamic flow, affecting passengers and communities near airports. The Q Series’ noise-reduction measures addressed a prominent drawback of turboprop travel.
Regional airliner: A passenger aircraft designed primarily for short- to medium-distance scheduled airline routes. The Dash 8 was developed to connect smaller markets and feed larger airline networks.
Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150: A high-power turboprop engine developed for regional aircraft, including the Dash 8 Series 400. It supplies the power needed for the Q400’s larger airframe and higher performance.
Havilland Aircraft of Canada: The Canadian aircraft manufacturer that developed the Dash 8 before later ownership and corporate changes. Its engineering and production organization originated the Dash 8 program.
Porter Airlines: A Canadian airline founded in 2006 and based at Toronto City Airport. Its Q400 fleet made the Dash 8 central to its early network.
Regional airline: An airline that primarily operates shorter routes, often linking smaller cities with major hubs. Dash 8 fleets helped airlines serve routes where larger jets could be uneconomical.