De Havilland Canada DHC-8 / Bombardier Dash-8 Series 100 / 200 / Q200

To meet growing demands for a quiet short-range transport in the 30-40 seat category, DH Canada, initiated the design and development of the DHC-8 Dash 8 in 1980, and the aircraft is the company's first transport not optimised for short take-off and landing. The fuselage cargo-loading door is standard, and other features include a retractable tricycle landing gear with twin-wheel units, large-span T-tail, and a high-mounted wing carrying two fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney PW120 advanced turboprop engines driving large-diameter slow-turning four-bladed propellers ensuring very low noise levels. These engines also have safety features which ensure that if one fails the other automatically increases its output to 1492kW.

The design has since grown into a family of aircraft offering between 36 and 70 seats and the prototype of the 36-seat Series 100 flew for the first time on 20 June 1983. Certification followed in September 1984 and the type went into service with the Canadian airline NorOntair in the following December.

The Series 300, formally launched in March 1986, is stretched by 3.43m, to carry between 50 and 56 passengers depending on the cabin configuration. Wing span is also increased by tip extensions and the first aircraft flew on 15 May 1987. Certification followed in February 1989 and the Series 300 entered airline service with Time Air the same month. Also available is the increased payload Series 300A able to carry 6272kg.

In June 1987, by which time DH Canada had been acquired by Boeing, studies for a further stretched version were underway. Designated the Series 400, and intended to compete with the ATP and ATR72, the 650-km/h 25175-kg 66/70-seat airliner could be flying by 1993, and certificated and delivered before the end of 1994. Powerplants offered for the new variant are the 2948kW free-turbine Allison GMA 2100 and the GE/Lycoming GLC38 advanced turbo-props driving slow-turning six-bladed propellers. A tentative 1990 go-ahead has been suspended awaiting the outcome of the current Aerospatiale/Alenia consortium bid to take over Boeing Canada.

By January 1991 the Dash 8 order book stood at 361 aircraft, comprising 251 Series 100s and 110 Series 300s, with around 230 delivered.

VARIANTS

CC-142: designation of two Series 100s bought by the Canadian. Department of National Defence but operated since March 1987 by the Canadian Forces at Lahr, Germany. o Used as passenger/cargo transports, the aircraft are equipped with long-range fuel tanks, rough field landing gear,, high strength floors and a special-mission-related avionics fit.

CT-142: designation of four Series 100s, acquired by the Canadian DND, and operated as specially configured navigation trainers by the Canadian Forces. Otherwise equipped similarly to the CC-142, the trainers are distinguished by their extended noses.

Dash 8M-100: two specially-equipped Series 100s used by the Canadian Department of Transport to calibrate ILS, VOR and MLS systems at Canadian airports.

Dash 8M-300ASW Triton: designation of a proposed maritime patrol or anti-submarine warfare version of the Series 300 equipped with Harpoon or Exocet-type anti-shipping missiles mounted on lower side fuselage sponson hardpoints, and four underwing pylons, outboard of the engines, capable of carrying missiles, torpedoes, mines, sonobuoys or searchlights. With a full range of ASW sensors including FLIR, MAD and search radar operated by a six-man crew, maximum endurance is over 11 hours .

E-9A: designation of two standard Series 100 aircraft acquired by the US Air Force in 1985 as airborne platforms to perform telemetry and data link duties in connection with drone and missile testing at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Modified by the Sierra Research division of LTV, the E-9A carries a large fuselage fairing containing a steerable phased-array antenna, underfuselage search radar and special avionics. Both aircraft were delivered in 1988.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1000 x 513)