Dash 8 Flight Experience

[JohnK]

Has anyone flown in a Dash 8 :?:

As there are 4 variants of the Dash 8 what sort of experiences have you had while flying in each of these :?: Comfortable :?: How smooth/noisy is the flight :?:

Not sure how I can tell which route flies which variant as they all say Dash 8. Possibly the more popular destinations like SYD-NTL may use the 400 series where as something like SYD-NAA may use the 100 series.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mal]

400's aren't yet in use in Australia. They are going to be used in the near future by QantasLink. Can't recall the timeframe but they had one out in Australia earlier this year to show off.

300's are 50 pax, 100/200's are 36 pax. As you sumised, the high volume pax routes tend to use the 300's.

I didn't think any 100's were left in the Qantaslink fleet. Not entirely sure.

As for the ride, they are ok. Is an experience if you've never been on one before.

Can get a bit of turbulance coming back down through the clouds. Can be a little disconcerting if you're in certain seats when you see the blades spinning so close to you.

They aren't particularly noisy but do have a loudish hum. Relatively comfy. You do get some vibration from the plane. Seats are pretty good.

No in flight entertainment. Qantaslink normally hands out magazines to read (or at least they do in Qld). The in flight catering is fairly basic but effective. The meals tend to be a "snack box" type arrangement of water, muffin, pack of chips or sandwiches etc. Coffee and tea available, beer and wine free on dinner flights.

I actually enjoy flying Qantaslink. Great service, great staff and a very very efficient organisation.

 

[oz_mark]

Has anyone flown in a Dash 8 :?:

As there are 4 variants of the Dash 8 what sort of experiences have you had while flying in each of these :?: Comfortable :?: How smooth/noisy is the flight :?:

Not sure how I can tell which route flies which variant as they all say Dash 8. Possibly the more popular destinations like SYD-NTL may use the 400 series where as something like SYD-NAA may use the 100 series.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

All I can say is that if you get to fly from SYD-CBR on one, while there is a thunderstorm around, I swear that they hit every single pot hole up there.

 

[aus_flyer]

Agree with absolutely everything Mal said, especially this...

Can be a little disconcerting if you're in certain seats when you see the blades spinning so close to you.

This freaks me out a bit, but I just think to myself that if the blades come off, I'm in trouble either way!! :shock:

I don't find the turbulence too concerning because I have often flown in 4-seater planes which bounce around a lot more!

Dash 8s are great. I travel on them quite regularly and always enjoy the flight.

 

[QF WP]

I've done my fair share of Dash 8 between SYD/CBR; but I would think shillard would have the wood on us all for the mosr number of flights - considering he lives in Newcastle...

I still prefer to get on anything other than a Dash 8, but not always possible.

 

[inpd]

Turbo prop planes shouldn't be too much of a problem
in Australia. Just stay away from the wing seats
as it can be LOUD. But do try to get a window
seat as they fly rather low (compared to jets)
and you get a great view. Also the ride is quite
comfortable since you are flying relatively low
to the ground. Now, in the U.S. in the cold months in the
mid-west many turbo-props often (by airlines standards)
get into serious problems.

Be grateful your not flying a focker friendship which
are still in service around the world!
I flew one of these in Bulgaria a few years ago
and it was truly terrifying. We were waiting on the
Tarmac in Sofia and around the corner comes
this museum looking Focker Friendship.
We got on the plane a little shaken, but
then saw the thread on the tires
was uneven (you could clearly see the bald patches)
and inside the engines looked not too good.

We made it to our destination and there were lots of
hugs and embraces going around. This was the
only time I've been truly frightened on a plane
(caveat I've flown hundreds of flights
but never had serious turbulence beyond a
few bumps).

 

[Dave Noble]

I find the Crash 8 comfortable though noisy and will choose them in preference to the 737. Better service, ime, and quicker embarkation and disembarkation.

Dabe

 

[Warks]

If all you've flown is jets for the past few years then the sound of a prop engine starting up right next to you can be disconcerting! I've been on them a lot lately with SYD-DUB and ROK-BNE etc flights. I used to find them a bit scary but now I feel a bit more confidence in them - if you got into some sort of trouble you could probably land one on a football field (albeit crashing through the fence at the end though). They seem to be able to take off in a very short distance. The flight to Lord Howe Island is probably the scariest just from the viewpoint that it's 2 hours over the empty ocean.
Good to see they still use them in North America - flew from SEA to YVR last week in one - Air Canada. What is reassuring is to be able to see the wheels come down when you are about to land!! You never know in a jet!

 

[jasonja3]

Noisier than jets, can rattle a bit on take off and climb, and the seats are quite small, however, give me Qantaslink FA's any day over regular QF.

I prefer to sit 1D, plently of leg room, but only on the 100/200 series, otherwise on the 300 series you will be sitting opposite someone at quite close range :roll:

 

[Dave Noble]

I prefer to sit 1D, plently of leg room, but only on the 100/200 series, otherwise on the 300 series you will be sitting opposite someone at quite close range

My experience is that no-one sits in 1E or 1F unless the flight is v full; 1B is a good seat, since noone would ( methinks) actually take 1A on a DH3 by choice

Dave

 

[jasonja3]

Ah yes, 1A, the seat especially designed for VERY short legs.

 

[dajop]

Having done 20+ flights on a Dash 8 over the last year, and lots more over the last five years, I definitely prefer them over 737's (more legroom, believe it or not). I regularly fly MEL-CBR, and although Dash 8's take longer (in flying time), I always prefer them to the 734's on the route, and indeed if you count embarkation/disembarkation time the time difference is negligible. In propeller aircraft terms, they are more roomy than the Saab's that Rex flies and FEEL more stable in turbulence (if that's any comfort!)

Agree that 1D is the best seat on the 100/200 series. Also, despite being an "aisle preference" person, on Dash 8's I if often try to get a window seat, as the views can be pretty amazing depending on the route (two of the best views are approach into SYD from the North, and also the eastern view flying from MEL to CBR, especially during winter).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

If all you've flown is jets for the past few years then the sound of a prop engine starting up right next to you can be disconcerting! I've been on them a lot lately with SYD-DUB and ROK-BNE etc flights. I used to find them a bit scary but now I feel a bit more confidence in them

I imagine it would be disconcerting to fly a prop Sydney to Dublin. Or do you mean DBO?

 

[Guest]

Dash8 anyday over the 734's they put where there may be any option. The only thing that I can ever think of when looking out the window (always a window seat on d8 even though asile is preference) is that one of those big blades will come loose and go straight through the body of the plane straight into my head.

 

[jasonja3]

Dash8 anyday over the 734's they put where there may be any option. The only thing that I can ever think of when looking out the window (always a window seat on d8 even though asile is preference) is that one of those big blades will come loose and go straight through the body of the plane straight into my head.

Row two is the best for that.... :shock:

 

[NM]

only downside to the Crash 8 is the limited overhead locker space. So some thing that you can carry-on to a 737 end up in the hold on the Dash 8.

 

[JohnK]

I imagine it would be disconcerting to fly a prop Sydney to Dublin. Or do you mean DBO?

What is wrong with SYD-DUB in a prop.

Just have to make 22 refuelling stops along the way. :roll:

 

[aus_flyer]

only downside to the Crash 8 is the limited overhead locker space.

Also, the weight restrictions for checked baggage.

 

[dajop]

only downside to the Crash 8 is the limited overhead locker space. So some thing that you can carry-on to a 737 end up in the hold on the Dash 8.

Yes, but rarely ever have to wait more than a few minutes for luggage to be retrieved from a Dash 8. At most country destinations, it's on the trolley and there almost straight away. Even at SYD, by the time all pax are on the bus, the bus gets to the terminal, you disembark the bus and walks to the luggage belt - it's often already there waiting.

 

[Groundfeeder]

Aah, the Crash-8 - todays version of the F27!

Given this is QLD I do a lot of regional airtime in the Crash-8 and enjoy the far more friendly crew service - especially after 4pm when the bar is broken out.

One of the most memorable flights I had was on the 4pm TSV to CNS Crash-8 where the FA was undergoing a flight check with her supervisor.
She did not stop the service, everyone imbibed to their desire and it was a very happy planeload landing in CNS.

When flying ROK to BNE I always choose the Crash-8 over DJ or Deathstar as it is only 30 mins longer and a reasonably relaxing flight. Shame about the bussing sometimes to spoil the scene.

I've got an unusual query about the Crash-8 which I've delayed posting but now the ice is broken, watch for it.