Bombardier dash 8

[Soothe]

Can anyone share their experiences of flying on this aircraft? Making trip from Belfast to Reykjavik in June and a bit nervous due to size of plane and fact it is not a jet engine

 

[DT95WA]

While doing FIFO I've probably flown on a Dash 8 well over 100 flights. The only problem we've had in that time was it got a flat battery. Have never had to turn around for anything mechanical. Pretty robust plane I reckon.

 

[newflyer]

I'm Canberra-based, so fly on them all the time. While my preference is for the jet (B737 or B717), the Crash-8s, I mean, Dash 8s, are fine. They can be a little bumpier from time-to-time, but as DT95WA says, they're solid and ultra-reliable, and as they often fly at lower altitudes, you get some great views. BTW, I'm assuming you'll be on the Q400, which is actually pretty new and quite large!

 

[Milboo]

Done numerous flights in the Q300 that Air NZ fly regionally. Never experienced an issue at all over many years of flying.

As noted above, the lower altitude means some good views.

 

[leadman]

Just hopped off a Dash 8 400 from ATH to AXD, great little flight everything fine, good leg space. Its flown by Olympic Air now owned by Aegean. I can still remember watching OA 747-100's coming into SYD. now the only fly Dash's on local routes.

 

[Conrad_S]

It's still a gas turbine turning the propellers and uses jet fuel so not a huge difference there. Pluses for the dash 8s are they fly lower so the view is generally better. Quick to get on and off. Legroom is ok and no trouble with seat recliners. Service is quick.
Downsides are they can be a little bumpier in light conditions. IMHO about the same when things get a bit hairy though the action tends to be up and down, not so much rolling. Seats are narrow. As said earlier the Q400s are a lot quite than earlier models. Overall I like them as a flying experience. The aisle seats have more legroom than the window seats but the views might be worth the sacrifice.

 

[straitman]

Can anyone share their experiences of flying on this aircraft? Making trip from Belfast to Reykjavik in June and a bit nervous due to size of plane and fact it is not a jet engine

Soothe,
As pointed out above a Dash 8 is still a 'Jet' engine. The only real difference is how the power is applied.

A straight jet is essentially what you expect a jet to be and in a turbo prop (read Dash 8) that jet exhaust powers a turbine which in turn drives the propellor.

 

[YSSY]

Most of the Dash-8 operated in Europe are Q400's, the worlds biggest operator being UK operator FlyBe. You of course won't be boarding using a jetway and they can be cold and draughty on the ground. Avoid sitting near the props, choose seats at the front or back. Generally feels not dissimilar to the Fokker 70 or B717 jets plying the outback.

 

[Boris spatsky]

The Q400 is also one of the fastest turboprops out there, about 360 knots in the cruise compared to a jet (420-450) so not that much slower really.

I don't mind them but prefer a jet anyday (but i may be bias )

 

[clazman]

Done many a flights to remote mine sites on prop aircraft, remember some glorious flights on a jet stream from a muddy runway

 

[samh004]

I love Q400 flights, but then I'm not super tall like some here!

 

[RB]

Have done plenty of flights PQQ-SYD. Bit noisy but comfortable enough with leg room fine & as others have said no recline. Usually great viewing with a bit of bounce when descending

 

[Buzzard]

Have been on the Dash 8 numerous times between SYD and ARM. Go for seat 1D.
The only thing I do not like about the Dash is that it is very noisy.

+1 refuses to fly on it. She would rather get the 8 hour train to/from ARM than the hour or so flight.
She gets quite nervous when it gets bumpy.

 

[alieninperth]

I don't mind the Dash-8. I flew with FlyBe a lot when I lived in Ireland/England and still use them when I head home so the Dash's are a nice reminder of those trips. I've even been known to choose them for SYD-CBR instead of a jet, mainly for the views but also for the space. For some reason, it seems to feel a little more relaxed than the bigger planes.

Not sure how much of a view you'll get from Belfast to Reykjavik, but assuming you flying from BHD (city George Best airport) rather than BFS (International-Aldergrove) the views along Belfast Lough as you land are lovely.

If you are flying to/from BHD then the plane will be coming/going home, as part of the Q400's are made in Belfast in the old Short facility next to the Airport.

 

[wanderer_au]

I use the Dash 8 a lot, SYD-CBR and SYD-ABX return, and it's fine. Not sure how I'd be flying over a big chunk of the North Sea in bad weather though! Maybe I'm just being a worrywort.

 

[newflyer]

Yeah, I agree about the noise - really bad if you're sitting next to, or near, the prop! And whatever you do, don't let your +1 see the Canberra Times this morning (although regular flyers always expect a fair bit of bounce on the southerly approach during warmer months): ATSB finds hurt QantasLink pilot minimised risk of injury on Canberra flight

 

[OATEK]

The only problem with the Dash 8s is the small overhead bins.

 

[samh004]

Have been on the Dash 8 numerous times between SYD and ARM. Go for seat 1D.

If my memory serves me correctly, that seat doesn't exist as there's only 2 on the left in row 1. Did you mean 2D?

1 AB --
2 AB CD

 

[craven morehead]

If my memory serves me correctly, that seat doesn't exist as there's only 2 on the left in row 1. Did you mean 2D?

1 AB --
2 AB CD

Might be thinking of the Dash 8 - 300 ?

 

[jb747]

Can anyone share their experiences of flying on this aircraft?

The Dash 8 is a perfectly reliable, and very mainstream, commuter aircraft. Its basic systems are identical to those in the larger aircraft.

Making trip from Belfast to Reykjavik in June and a bit nervous due to size of plane and fact it is not a jet engine

The size of the aircraft has very little to do with safety. The capability of the airline, and of the pilots is of much more importance. There are many operators of large aircraft that I'd not fly with even in the tickets were free. Conversely, I regularly use a small airline, and have no issues with their operation. A nice shiny new aircraft, or great big one, mean absolutely nothing.

Ah, but it is a jet engine. In this instance the turbine is being used to drive a propellor. But, if you look at something like an A380, the main fan is really a enclosed propellor, with a lot of blades. Most of the thrust comes from the fan/propellor.