Q300/Q400

The Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 and Q400 are members of the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 series of regional turboprop airliners. De Havilland Canada, originally founded to build Moth aircraft for Canadian airmen training, began designing aircraft uniquely suited to the harsh Canadian operating environment after World War II. The Dash 8 family originated with De Havilland Canada before the program was acquired by Bombardier Aerospace. The ‘Q’ in the model designation stands for ‘Quiet,’ referring to the noise and vibration suppression system utilized.

The Q300, or DH8C, is an earlier, mid-sized variant of the Dash 8. The Q400 is the largest and newest variant, distinguished by its higher cruising speed. The Q400 is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 turboprops, driving six-bladed reversible-pitch composite propellers. Its fuel capacity provides a maximum range of 2,519km.

These aircraft are widely used globally by regional airlines for short-to-medium-haul flights due to their efficiency and performance. They are particularly common in regions requiring operations from smaller or challenging airports, such as Canada, parts of Europe, and Asia-Pacific, serving both passenger and cargo roles. The Q400, in particular, is valued for its turboprop efficiency coupled with jet-like speed.