Dash 8 Flight Experience

[Warks]

If all you've flown is jets for the past few years then the sound of a prop engine starting up right next to you can be disconcerting! I've been on them a lot lately with SYD-DUB and ROK-BNE etc flights. I used to find them a bit scary but now I feel a bit more confidence in them

I imagine it would be disconcerting to fly a prop Sydney to Dublin. Or do you mean DBO?

You know I was going to check that but I thought I'd save the effort knowing some smarta... would point it out if I was wrong!!

 

[Alan in CBR]

When flying ROK to BNE I always choose the Crash-8 over DJ or Deathstar as it is only 30 mins longer and a reasonably relaxing flight. Shame about the bussing sometimes to spoil the scene.

Ah yes, the buses.

Only thing I really hate about the CBR-SYD Dash-8 is having to pile into a bus for the last 20-50 metres of the trip. Yes I know they have to do it to maintain the sterile airside environment, but couldn't they just get someone to keep an eye on us?

Still, it's an improvement on the days when you had to be rescreened prior to entering SYD T3.

 

[shillard]

Has anyone flown in a Dash 8 :?:

I am the Crash-8 Master.

NTL-SYD - over 100 times
NTL-MEL - almost 100 times
NTL-BNE - 40 or so times
NTL-OOL - 8 times
PMQ-SYD - 11 times
SYD-ABX - sometimes....
CBR-MEL - once

Mostly return runs (so double the count for those).


Crash-8 flying is REAL FLYING. None of this wussy turbofan nonsense - give me a prop that pushes air back over the wings.

I prefer seat 2B or 2C for maximum engine noise whilst retaining my aisle seating.

You have not flown until you cram your QF Plat carryon bag under the seat in front of you, and make do with 2 nanometres of leg room.

 

[shillard]

I find the Crash 8 comfortable though noisy and will choose them in preference to the 737. Better service, ime, and quicker embarkation and disembarkation.

Dabe

Bang-on.

Breakfast on the Crash-8 is perfect for me: Yoghurt, banana, muesli bar and a cup of tea. Just like I get at home (with the notable exception of fresh strawberries).

The service rocks - Crash-8 cabin staff are still young, fresh and enthusiastic. Probably still pinching themselves that they get to fly all over the country for a living. Way better than the burned out dragons you often get on mainline routes.

(Reminds me of a great one-liner a mate fired off when challenged over his low standards for short-term partners: "Well, you have to slay a few dragons to find the princess)....but I digress:

Great service, free booze, and decent snacks on the day/ evening flights. If they could just dish out SOF instead of New Idea, I'd be as sound as a pound.

 

[Dave Noble]

Great service, free booze, and decent snacks on the day/ evening flights. If they could just dish out SOF instead of New Idea, I'd be as sound as a pound.

Plus unlike mainline QF, Qantaslink offers free alkyfrol on flights after 4pm on saturdays and sundays

Dave

 

[HardieBoys]

Fly Dash 8s 100 times per year between Sydney and regional areas. The pitch is greater than in a 737, and it's much quicker to disembark (note for the Americans: 'deplane'). The lockers in the Dash 8 100's are quite small, though those in the Dash 8 300s are fair. I was invited to see the new Dash 8 plane that QF had ordered, but had to race back to work before the endless speeches had concluded. They're fine, and the hum of the props usually sends me to sleep. I do like a Mintie or two as we start the descent into Sydney...

 

[Groundfeeder]

My experience is that no-one sits in 1E or 1F unless the flight is v full; 1B is a good seat, since noone would ( methinks) actually take 1A on a DH3 by choice

You can also get to lock eyes with the other 50 or so pax from these chairs!

I've witnessed a mining Co elite on a full flight throw a good tanty when he realised where his status got him!

 

[JohnK]

I am the Crash-8 Master.

NTL-SYD - over 100 times
NTL-MEL - almost 100 times
NTL-BNE - 40 or so times
NTL-OOL - 8 times
PMQ-SYD - 11 times
SYD-ABX - sometimes....
CBR-MEL - once

Mostly return runs (so double the count for those).

That is lot of prop flying. :shock:

Definately Crash-8 Master. I guess you are also able to pilot one as well by now.

 

[dajop]

Just a quick question about Dash 8's - do they actually taxi faster along the ground than jets or is it just that they are lower to ground that makes them seem to taxi faster?

I find that when landing to the south (or taking off from the north) on the 3rd runway at SYD - that they fairly zip along the taxiway, and SEEM to get to the terminal(runway) a lot faster than jets over the same distance. (not withstanding I guess that they use less runway).

 

[jasonja3]

Just a quick question about Dash 8's - do they actually taxi faster along the ground than jets or is it just that they are lower to ground that makes them seem to taxi faster?

I find that when landing to the south (or taking off from the north) on the 3rd runway at SYD - that they fairly zip along the taxiway, and SEEM to get to the terminal(runway) a lot faster than jets over the same distance. (not withstanding I guess that they use less runway).

I agree, when you land in Syd its like an expressway directly to the terminal, definitely faster then, but taxing around about the same.....

 

[shillard]

That is lot of prop flying. :shock:

Definately Crash-8 Master. I guess you are also able to pilot one as well by now.

I haven't got an endorsement on one, but I have enough multi-engine time under my belt to give it a good go.

No problems landing the cough - just can't guarantee that you would be able to use the aeroplane again. :twisted:

 

[Groundfeeder]

No, they're still at cruising speed!

 

[Alan in CBR]

Just a quick question about Dash 8's - do they actually taxi faster along the ground than jets or is it just that they are lower to ground that makes them seem to taxi faster?

Dunno, the 737s sometimes fairly race along too. Found that out one morning when one had to come to a sudden stop to avoid some FOD.

 

[dasher]

I do most of my travelling ni the Dash 8s, and apart from the fun of going through a storm, I don't mind them at all! Early morning flight up the Qld coast on a fine day is great.

I agree there seems to more leg room, avoid the window seats from row 1-5 as it gets noisy (you get used to it), Stay away from 1A unless you have very short legs (and 1E and F on the 300, they sit backwards). The biggest plus though is the QantasLink crew (sunsate) they always seem to be very friendly and very helpful and seems they could teach their Qantas Jet brother and sisters a few things in service!

Looking forward to the 400s which start shortly.

 

[JohnK]

Finally had my ever flight on a Dash 8-200 ADL-PLO-ADL yesterday.

I found it a very comfortable flight (apart from constant noise) and a lot better than I expected.

As you most know these are 36 seaters and on ADL-PLO leg I was allocated 2B and there was someone in 2A with only 16 people on flight. Stuff that, sat in 1C. On PLO-ADL leg I was allocated 5B (sequence #2 boarding pass) and again someone in 5A with only 22 people on flight. Computers and balancing loads on a flight. Same cabin crew (read 1) and he said I could have my favourite, by now, seat 1C. Captain complained that balance was not right for takeoff so I had to settle for 4A, exit row! At least no one seated next to me.

Refreshement was anzac cookies with wattle seed! Washed down by a VB.

Overall flight experience was very good and I would love to do it again.

Anyone know what route the Dash 8-300s are used? I would love to try one of these in the near future.

 

[serfty]

... Overall flight experience was very good and I would love to do it again.

Anyone know what route the Dash 8-300s are used? I would to try one of these in the near future.

Plenty between CBR and SYD; you'll generally find a lot more PAX on those.

Also around SE QLD.

 

[JohnK]

... Overall flight experience was very good and I would love to do it again.

Anyone know what route the Dash 8-300s are used? I would to try one of these in the near future.

Plenty between CBR and SYD; you'll generally find a lot more PAX on those.

Also around SE QLD.

SYD-CBR-SYD it is then. Now just to wait for then next round of specials.

I was told by the FA that the Qantaslink Dash 8-300 seats 50. Is this correct?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yup - see seatmap

 

[straitman]

No problems landing the cough - just can't guarantee that you would be able to use the aeroplane again. :twisted:

They saying goes something like:

A good landing is one you can walk away from.
A great landing is one you can walk away from and they can use the aircraft again.

 

[Skyring]

Can get a bit of turbulance coming back down through the clouds. Can be a little disconcerting if you're in certain seats when you see the blades spinning so close to you.

Yeah. Looks a bit alarming, but I think they use extra-strength Tarzans Grip, as although I've spent a lot of time looking, I haven't seen a blade come off yet.

They do the Sydney-Canberra run and my wife and I have mixed feelings. She hates the noise and being slung around by the weather, but I think my upper-end hearing is shot anyway, because the noise doesn't bother me. And out of long habit I make sure my seatbelt is done up real tight.

You get a great view because the wings are above you and you fly low. One flight we had a marvellous view of central Sydney as we went past to join the glide slope.

Cabin service is sparse, but friendly. Generally you get a cuppa and a muffin, and by the time the crew has served all the passengers it's time to descend and they are scrambling to collect cups etc.

Have to laugh at the bus to the gate at the Sydney end. At Canberra you walk to the plane, and at Dunedin International, everybody walks, even to the A322s that do the trans-Tasman runs.