I flew the DASH 8-100 for Agony (Allegheny) for 2000 hrs worth and would rate it as one of the better airplanes I've flown. The slow Vref speed, short stopping distance, spacious cockpit, in the day its' advanced avionics (sorry to date myself), and the ability to slow down quickly by pushing the props up were some of its' finer qualities.

The Expressway to 31 and the visual approach to 13 (LGA) were two of my favorite approaches closely rivaled by the Canarsie at JFK and down the River at DCA.

Glad to see the DASH is still flying.

FF


CC, you guys got the Shorts above 150 KTS ??!!! Was that going downhill ??!!!

 

Cactus Crew, I can't believe you could besmirch the great name of the Shorts. Where would the Saab and Dash be if the Shorts had never delivered them

I admit the 360 was pretty slippery, but the 330 could go down and slow down fairly well. The poor Shorts had TON's of drag but it was always there, you couldn't really add any when you needed it. I really enjoyed flying it though.

Used come into Reno and cross the ridge to the West at 11,000 and they'd ask if we could make a straight in to 7. Peg the VSI and down we go. Of course we only had boxes not pax so they didn't complain about the deck angle etc.

I've since moved on to the Dash 8's -100 and -400 and while I don't think I will ever love another plane the way I love the Dash I do miss the Shorts from time to time. Kinda like you miss that UGLY stray dog that used to hang around

 

JW is that you?

 

Oh man. Now I miss the -200 as well. Flaps 35, max reverse and brakes in the touchdown zone, it would turn any lap children into meat missles. (only did it empty, so no actual lap children were harmed during this post). The -400 is cool to fly, but I miss the abilities and agilities of the 200. I once heard atc asking a 200 crew if they could make a crossing restriction and they're reply was, " No problem, we're coming down like a broken rock!" -classic

 

"I think the Dash 7 outdoes, just about everything for short field performance, I spoke with a Fed that used to fly 'em for Rocky Mountain Airways. With a twinkle in his eye, he spoke of many tales... ref at MLW (50 pax?) with full flaps was somewhere in the low 80's. 8 degree MLS approaches into Steamboat Springs were of no concern."



HEHE - I was a Rocky Mountain Rocker for five years, and for my money, the -7 was the best airplane in the biz. Ref at MLW was 88 knots, and you could have her stopped in 800-1000', scared the hell out of pax, and pushed them against their lap belts pretty hard. We used to lovingly call the -7 the smash dash for this reason. Then you could turn around and get it off the ground in 2000' @ 44,000Lbs MTOW. I recall the days of Steamboat and Leadville out of Stapleton, good times. I live in Steamboat now, and longingly drive past the Steamboat airport on my way to Hayden to get a ride to work, and miss the good old days of the Dash-7.

 

Saw one come into Renton one day and nearly shat myself as he took off in what looked like 500 ft. With being empty at sea level that may not be too much of an exaggeration. There is just something sexy about 4 engine TPs.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Briti...ada/1301250/M/

 

You bet. Is that you God?

 

Forgive the out-of-left-field question, but does anyone know how large the radar antenna is on the -8? I can't find it in any of my old info. Thanks!