https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Dash_8
also
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/19015/one-of-us-special-operations-commands-newest-spy-planes-is-hunting-terrorists-in-libya
The Bombardier Dash 8 or Q-Series, previously known as the de Havilland Canada
Dash 8 or DHC-8, is a series of twin-engine, medium-range, turboprop airliners.
Introduced by de Havilland Canada (DHC) in 1984, they are now produced by
Bombardier Aerospace. Over 1,000 Dash 8s of all models have been built.
The Dash 8 was developed from the de Havilland Canada Dash 7, which featured
extreme short take-off and landing (STOL) performance. With the Dash 8, DHC
focused on improving cruise performance and lowering operational costs. The
engine chosen was the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100. The aircraft has been
delivered in four series. The Series 100 has a maximum capacity of 39, the
Series 200 has the same capacity but offers more powerful engines, the Series
300 is a stretched, 50-seat version, and the Series 400 is further stretched to
78 passengers. Models delivered after 1997 have cabin noise suppression and are
designated with the prefix "Q". Production of the Series 100 ceased in 2005, and
the Q200 and Q300 in 2009.
Distinguishing features of the Dash 8 design are the large T-tail intended to
keep the tail free of prop wash during takeoff, a very high aspect ratio wing,
the elongated engine nacelles also holding the rearward-folding landing gear,
and the pointed nose profile. First flight was on June 20, 1983, and the
airliner entered service in 1984 with NorOntair. In 1984, Piedmont Airlines,
formerly Henson Airlines, was the first US customer for the Dash 8.
The Dash 8 design has better cruise performance than the Dash 7, is less
expensive to operate, and is much less expensive to maintain, due largely to
having only two engines. It is a little noisier than the Dash 7 and cannot match
the STOL performance of its earlier DHC forebears, although it is still able to
operate from small airports with 3,000 ft (910 m) runways, compared to the 2,200
ft (670 m) required by a fully laden Dash 7.
In April 2008, Bombardier announced that production of the classic versions
(Series 100, 200, 300) would be ended, leaving the Series 400 as the only Dash 8
still in production. A total of 671 Dash 8 classics were produced; the last one
was delivered to Air Nelson in May 2008.
Role
Turboprop airliner
Manufacturer
de Havilland Canada
Bombardier Aerospace
First flight
June 20, 1983
Introduction
1984 with NorOntair
Status
In production
Primary users
Jazz
Horizon Air
Flybe
QantasLink
Produced
Number built
1,242 (as of December 31, 2017)
Unit cost
Q400 US$32.2 million
Developed from
de Havilland Canada Dash 7
In 1988, Boeing bought the company in a bid to improve production at DHC's
Downsview Airport plants, as well as better position itself to compete for a new
Air Canada order for large intercontinental airliners. Air Canada was a Crown
corporation at the time, and both Boeing and Airbus were competing heavily via
political channels for the contract. It was eventually won by Airbus, which
received an order for 34 A320 aircraft in a highly controversial move. The
allegations of bribery are today known as the Airbus affair. Following its
failure in the competition, Boeing immediately put de Havilland Canada up for
sale. The company was eventually purchased by Bombardier in 1992.
2005. Production of the Q200 and Q300 ceased in May 2009.
Specifications Q 200
Cockpit Crew 2
Passengers Typical 37
Max Capacity 40
Length 73 ft / 22.25 m
Height 24 ft 7 in / 7.49 m
Wingspan 90 ft / 27.40 m
Width Fuselage 8 ft 10 in / 2.69 m, cabin 8 ft 3 in / 2.52 m
Max takeoff 36,300 lb / 16,466 kg
Max landing 34,500 lb / 15,649 kg
Max payload 8,921 lb / 4,647 kg
High speed cruise 289 kts / 535 km/h
Range 1,125 nmi / 2,084 km
*
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