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De Havilland Canada

Dash 8 Q400

A fast turboprop marking how close a propeller aircraft can come to the jet speed range.

Dash 8 Q400 — Regional Airliner
Trougnouf · CC BY 4.0
Dash 8 Q400 — Regional Airliner
Karly Barker · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dash 8 Q400 — Regional Airliner
John Robert McPherson · CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

The Q400 is a turboprop built for regional routes and operating at the upper speed band of its class. The "Q" in its name points to an active noise and vibration suppression system — a direct answer to the classic complaint about turboprop cabins.

A propeller aircraft burns less fuel than a jet on short sectors. On a one-hour flight the jet's speed advantage dissolves in climb and descent, while the turboprop stays efficient at low altitude.

A high wing and long landing gear allow operation at small airports and short runways. In regional aviation the number of reachable points matters more than the aircraft's speed.

Details

Brand
De Havilland Canada
Category
Regional Airliner
Body
Turboprop
Propulsion
turboprop
Produced
1999–