Dash 8 400

[markis10]

Saw the ad in the Courier Mail yesterday saying the 400 series hit the routes on the 23rd and then saw one at BNE, big plane compared to the 300/200 series, anyone flown in one yet?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not with QF but have with other airlines. 'sokay.

 

[Mal]

I have a booking to fly on one on the 26th. Believed that was the first date of introduction unless Qantaslink have moved it forwards.

Should be a good plane and a good ride. Faster than the older Dash-8's too.

Should be a good flight. I'll try to post back some comments here.

 

[NM]

Saw the ad in the Courier Mail yesterday saying the 400 series hit the routes on the 23rd and then saw one at BNE, big plane compared to the 300/200 series, anyone flown in one yet?

Have not flown in one, but stood next to one in QF colours back in June 05 at Le Borget at the Paris Airshow. It certainly looks strange being as long and thin as it is. Its not going to difficult to tell which are the -300 and -400 models 8) .

I have a few photos of the -400 in QF colours from Paris, but the photo album part of AFF has not been working for uploads for many months now, so I can't put them up.

 

[markis10]

It may be the 26th and not 23rd, i was posting after a long day of travel and a few Tigers had affected my memory!

As for the aircraft looking long and thin, you are not wrong, there was a 200 and a 300 available for comparison on the apron and it was amazing the difference. Wonder if there is any inflight audio/video facilities.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I cant recall any Q400s flown on other airlines having audio or ife.

 

[bigjobs]

i have flown in them in north america. very nice plane. i think qlink is going to limit them to passenger numbers that mean they still only need 2 FAs on the flight. i think that number is 70.

no inflight entertainment on the ones i flew in. they are pretty quick and quiet too

 

[Groundfeeder]

Markis10

As for the aircraft looking long and thin, you are not wrong,

From what I've read on other tech forums, the Q400 is sometimes referred to as the "stretch Metro". Still development going on with sound/harmonics deadening with some salesman weasel words about engine synchro on the Q400 website.

I do regular sojourns on the Crash-8 throughout QLD and don't have a problem. Great to partake on this aircraft (and great crew) as I can suss out my program areas from the air during the voyage, instead of looking at the cloud base from a 738 etc.

Looking forward to the Rockvegas/Townsville/Cairns runs!!

 

[Groundfeeder]

......... and I haven't posted here to boost my upcoming BIG 50 posts !!!

 

[Mal]

For those interested in what plans are laid out for the Q400, Qantas have a press release here: http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2006/jan06/Q3379

"* Brisbane and Rockhampton - increasing seats by 16 per cent;
* Brisbane and Gladstone - increasing seats by 22 per cent;
* Brisbane and Emerald - increasing seats by 37 per cent;
* Rockhampton and Mackay - increasing seats by 24 per cent;
* Mackay and Townsville - increasing seats by 26 per cent; and
* Townsville and Cairns - increasing seats by 21 per cent."

and:
"QantasLink would also operate a daily direct Q400 service between Brisbane and Canberra from April 2006"