02hilliert From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2007, 467 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2018 times:
Hi Ryan,
I've flown on the Q400 a number of times with FlyBE, and personally try and get in 7D on most flights. The window is well-alligned with the row which means that you can look out in comfort without having to squirm in your seat to get a good view. That row is also just in front of the massive props which make an impressive sight. Obviously configurations and seat pitch on other carriers mean you might not be so lucky in that row!
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11113 posts, RR: 63 Reply 2, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1993 times:
It depends really on which airline your flying, Qantas I'm assuming? The Q400 is definately the most comfortable of all the Dashes and props as a whole, more comfortable than many jets too.
If it is Qantas, then I'd suggest 2D, as it's an exit row with piles of legroom - so long as you don't mind storing your carry on luggage in the overheads.
KingFriday013 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 1277 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1968 times:
The Dash 8 is a wonderful aircraft! The Q400 in particular is very nice; I'd go as far as saying it's nicer than most regional jets. I've only been on one Q400 when I was going through Newark. Usually, I get a Dash 8-100 as I go through LGA. Fun little plane to go on.
HorizonGirl From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 782 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1952 times:
First Dash 8 flight huh?
You, my friend, are about to have the most amazing experience of your life. I kid you not.
Well I may be biased, as I am a self-professed obsessed Dash 8 fan. But that is for a reason.
I would certainly recommend 7 or 8 A/D. It depends on what you like to see. Whenever I fly on a Dash, I consider the props just as much a sight to see as the scenery you may be flying over! Just take into consideration that it blocks out quite a lot.
Quoting KingFriday013 (Reply 3): I'd go as far as saying it's nicer than most regional jets.
I'd rather spend my time on the Q400 than any regional jet.
PITingres From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 954 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1944 times:
My first Q400 flight, I sat exactly parallel to the propellers. Too bad I don't recall the seat number (Maybe 7D or 8D?); I was too busy watching the props do their thing. It was great.
When you say "best seat", what do you mean? Quietest? Best view of the ground? Best view of the physics of flying? ???
By the way, I was impressed by how relatively quiet the Q400 is. It was no silent crypt by any means, but it was the equal or better of most regional jets I've flown, and was much quieter than the hellish Saabs or ATR's that have left me numb in past years.
JMackey From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 294 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1940 times:
My wife was a former QX employee which gave me lots of experience with the Dash 8, and these seats were my Q400 preference as well. I just enjoyed watching the gear lowered and seeing the tires contact the runway.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11113 posts, RR: 63 Reply 9, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1923 times:
Quoting Ryan h (Reply 8): When I mean best seat, I mean best view out of the window and I assume a seat towards the back would be best.
Personally I'd say stick towards the front - forwards of row 7, because the engine blots out too much of the view. If you want to just be able to see the prop but also have a good clear view in all directions from your window, then go for something like row 4 or 5.
Almost at 100 Dash 8 flights, and I'm still not bored of that view
VHTJE From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2009, 306 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1907 times:
Wonderful little aircraft. The nice thing about a Dash-8 is that with the high wings, you get a fantastic view below.
One of the best flights I ever did was on a Dash-8 from CBR to SYD. Because of winds we had to land on 16R (that's the main runway, landing towards the south) so we actually flew over the airfield, out over the sea before turning for our approach.
It was at night - an incredibly clear winter's night - and I had a fantastic and completely uncluttered view of aircraft movements on the airfield below. I actually saw an aircraft take off below us - completely amazing. The airfield was swarthed in that warm orange light and it added to the magic.
My only wish was that I'd had a camera. I shook the pilot's hand when I disembarked and thanked him for my best flight ever.
I'd recommend a seat in front of the wings though, if for no other reason than that I have never sat behind them. The seats on a Dash-8 are slightly narrower than on a jet - or at least they seem so to me.
KingFriday013 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 1277 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 1881 times:
Quoting PITingres (Reply 6): By the way, I was impressed by how relatively quiet the Q400 is. It was no silent crypt by any means, but it was the equal or better of most regional jets I've flown, and was much quieter than the hellish Saabs or ATR's that have left me numb in past years.
I'm not sure about that... I thought the Q400 wasn't much quieter than a DH1 when I took it. Sure it's quieter than a CRJ, but I didn't think by much. I wish I could take more Q400s... too bad that would require going to EWR (which is not happening again any time soon, thank God).
I'm going to be really upset when US has the switch with DL at LGA. LGA-ROC will hopefully be picked up by DL and OH and will be CRJs. I'm really going to miss the Dash 8s. I hope I get the chance to go on one again before they're gone...
PITIngres From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 954 posts, RR: 12 Reply 13, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1857 times:
Quoting KingFriday013 (Reply 11): I'm not sure about that... I thought the Q400 wasn't much quieter than a DH1 when I took it. Sure it's quieter than a CRJ, but I didn't think by much.
My first exposure to a turboprop was a Saab 340, and I couldn't hear properly for at least a day afterwards. IMHO the Q400 is much quieter than either the 340's or the ATR-72's. The only prop I've been in that comes anywhere close to the Q was the Dornier 328, and it was definitely louder than the Q400. I've never been in a DH1.
YVRLTN From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 2084 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1834 times:
Quoting Ryan h (Reply 8): best view out of the window and I assume a seat towards the back would be best.
My one and only Dash 8 flight was on a Q400 and I sat just behind the engine. While watching the gear operate was cool, the heat haze out of the exhaust completely distorted the view, which sucked for me as I try to take rego's while Im on the gound, so I wasnt too happy... but lovely ride for sure!
I live in the homeland of the Dash 8 and every third movement at my hometown airport YVR is a Dash 8, yet I go to Germany to fly on one
JMackey From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 294 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1832 times:
Quoting YVRLTN (Reply 14): I live in the homeland of the Dash 8 and every third movement at my hometown airport YVR is a Dash 8
Are Horizon and AC Jazz the only Dash 8 operators at YVR, or are there more ?
KingFriday013 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 1277 posts, RR: 10 Reply 16, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1826 times:
Quoting JMackey (Reply 12): Go west, young man...LOL, your chances are huge with QX.
I'd love to! Shame I don't have the money for it... and I'd rather work on getting back on a 757 first
Quoting PITIngres (Reply 13): My first exposure to a turboprop was a Saab 340, and I couldn't hear properly for at least a day afterwards. IMHO the Q400 is much quieter than either the 340's or the ATR-72's. The only prop I've been in that comes anywhere close to the Q was the Dornier 328, and it was definitely louder than the Q400. I've never been in a DH1.
The only props I've ever been on were the DH1, Q400, a DHC-6-300 VistaLiner, and a 1966-build Fokker F.27-200 in Panama. What an amazing plane! I remember that the engine sounded really high-pitched.
KGAIflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 3646 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1779 times:
My last Q400 flight was on Horizon Air BIL-SEA (1065 km). On a flight that long, I would suggest any aisle seat so you can occasionally stretch your legs. Regardless of how wonderful the Q400 is, after two hours of flight time, you just want to stand up.
JMackey From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 294 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1698 times:
Quoting YVRLTN (Reply 19): They are the main two. There is also Hawkair from the south terminal, plus Transport Canada have one based for surveillance.
Thanks for the update ! IIRC, Hawkair does YVR-YXT only, correct ?
KGAIflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 3646 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1626 times:
Quoting QantasA333 (Reply 21): Quoting Ryan h (Reply 18):
KGAIflyer, my flight won't be that long. 45 minutes each way.
And refreshments are served onboard for only a short flight!
Probably not the same as on *ultra* long QX flights.
We get local micro-brew, locally produced Merlot, and locally manufactured snack foods.
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