The story
The Dash 8-300 stretched the original airframe by 11 feet 3 inches to seat 50 to 56, and moved up from the original Series 100's PW120-series engines to more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123s. The first one was the prototype Dash 8 converted to the new length, which flew in its new shape in May 1987. Production ran from 1989 to 2009 with 267 built, and later aircraft fitted with active noise suppression were sold as the Q300.
In 2017 the -300 got an extended service program that raised its design life by half, from 80,000 to 120,000 flight cycles.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Dash 8-300?
High-wing T-tail turboprop whose long engine nacelles house the main gear. The -300 sits between the short -100/-200 (73 ft) and the Q400 (108 ft): about 84 ft long, with four-bladed propellers. The Q400 is much longer, with bigger engines and six-bladed props.
What does a Dash 8-300 sound like?
A steady PW123 turboprop hum with a gravelly edge on takeoff.
How many passengers does the Dash 8-300 carry?
Up to 56. A typical layout is 50 (1-class).
How far can the Dash 8-300 fly?
Range is about 924 nmi.
How big is the Dash 8-300?
It is 84 ft 3 in long and 90 ft 0 in across the wings.
When did the Dash 8-300 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1987.
How many Dash 8-300s have been built?
267 built.
How rare is a Dash 8-300 in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Dash 8-300 catch is worth 25 points.
