Info courtesy of:
http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/regional5.html
SUNSTATE AIRLINES
Airline code - QF. With Noosa Air, Sunstate was owned by Whitaker Pty. Ltd. in the early 1980s. In 1989 Sunstate, based at Hamilton, Central Queensland, operated a fleet consisting of three Shorts 360s, two Shorts 330s, one EMB-110P1 Bandeirante and two Twin Otters. Ports served were Blackwater, Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Maroochydore, Maryborough, Noosa, Rockhampton, Thangool / Bileola, Toowoomba and Townsville.
During 1989 Australian Airlines purchased a one-third share of Sunstate. Three Bandeirantes, a Twin Otter, and two GAF N-24As were disposed of or withdrawn from service for other uses.
Another subsidiary company, Whitaker Air Services (airline code SE) operated charter services linking Bundaberg and Maryborough with Lady Elliot and Fraser Islands, using Twin Otter, Islander and GAF N-22B aircraft.
Australian Airlines, previously with a 33% ownership of Sunstate, purchased the remainder in October 1990, and the airline's livery reflected this as its Shorts 360s were repainted over ensuing weeks in Australian's colours. The fleet then consisted of three Shorts 360s, three Shorts 330s, an EMB-110P1, two DHC-6-300s and a Cessna 404.
During the 1989 pilots' dispute Sunstate took up a number of services on the Queensland coast, and south through Brisbane to Sydney, NSW. Toowoomba was dropped and taken up by Eastland Air as the designated Australian Airlines carrier.
In mid-1992 Sunstate took delivery of its first DHC-8s, two from the USA followed by a third ex-Australian Regional aircraft. With the third aircraft, Australian Regional also transferred the Cairns, Bamaga and Thursday Island route to Sunstate. A month later they took delivery of the former Southern Australia Shorts 360, VH-MVX.
Sunstate began a weekly service Brisbane / Lord Howe Island in September 1992, using the Dash-8. Their fleet now consisted of three Dash 8s, four Shorts 360s, two Shorts 330s and two EMB-110P1s. They carried 165,946 passengers in the year ending 30th June 1992.
Sunstate took over the fleet and routes of Australian Regional Airlines from 1st October, 1993. This added to Sunstate's network the ports of Brampton Island, Dunk Island, Kreat Keppel Island, Lizard Island, Shute Harbour, Thursday Island and Townsville. Fleet changes included withdrawal of the Shorts 330 and the Bandeirante types. The Sunstate fleet was now composed of three Dash 8s, four Shorts 360s, and five DHC-6-300s.
Sunstate carried 308,000 passengers for the year ending 30th June 1994. In 1998 this had risen to 477,093.
Sunstate began withdrawing its Twin Otter fleet in late 1997, with closure of its routes to Dunk Island and Lizard Island. In 1998 its fleet consisted of one Dash 8-200, four Dash 8-100s and five Shorts 360s.
Sunstate was the first Australian operator of the 50 seat Dash 8-300 when it began using the aircraft on its routes linking Cairns, Qld., with Horn Island, Hamilton Island, and Townsville in 1999/2000. Its fleet of 11 aircraft comprised Shorts 300s and Dash 8-100 and -300 aircraft, flying to 21 destinations. Sunstate is 100% owned by Qantas.
Along with other Qantas regionals, in May 2001 Sunstate commenced operating under the common QantasLink brand, as QantasLink / Sunstate Airlines
QANTASLINK / SUNSTATE AIRLINES
Airline code QF/QFA. Queensland-based QantasLink / Sunstate, in 2001, operated Dash 8 and Shorts 360 aircraft to link the eastern Australian ports of Ballina, Blackwater, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Charleville, Coffs Harbour, Coolangatta, Emerald, Gladstone, Longreach, Lord Howe Island, Mackay, Melbourne, Newcastle/Williamtown, Rockhampton, Roma, Thursday Island and Townsville.
Its fleet then comprised five Dash 8-100s (VH-TND, -TNG, -TNU, -TNW, -TNX), the Dash 8-200s (VH-SOA, -SDE) and Dash 8-300s VH-SBB and -SBG, with the Shorts 360-300s VH-SUL. -SUM and -SUR (with -SUF being withdrawn from their service during the year).
DHC Dash 8
Data for Dash 8 Series 100
TYPE: STOL turboprop regional airliner.
PERIOD BUILT: 1984-
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
ENGINES: 2x Pratt & whitney Canada PW120A turboprops of 2,000 hp each
DIMENSIONS:
Wing span: 85 ft 0 in / 25.91 m.
Length: 73 ft 0 in / 22.25 m
Height: 24 ft 7 in / 7.49 m.
WEIGHTS:
Empty: 22,000 lb / 9,979 kg
Max. takeoff: 34,500 lb / 15,650 kg
PERFORMANCE:
Max. cruising speed: 308 mph / 497 kph
Operating ceiling: 25,000 ft / 7,620 m
Range: 1,249 mls / 2,010 km with full passenger load.
ACCOMMODATION: 36 passengers
Development of the Dash 8 began in the 1980s, and it became De Havilland Canada's first transport not optimised for short take-off and landing. The Series 100 first flew in June 1983, and entered service late in 1984.
The Series 100 met a demand for 30-40 seat short range airline transport. It was followed in 1986 by the Series 300, stretched to accommodate 50-56 passengers. After Boeing acquired DHC in 1987, design began on a further stretched version of the Dash 8, the Series 400, with a 66-70 seat range.
The aircraft features a standard fuselage cargo loading door, retractable tricycle landing gear with twin wheel units, and a high mounted wing with two fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney PW120 advanced turboprop engines driving four-bladed propellors, producing very low noise levels. A safety feature ensures that if one engine fails, the other automatically increases its output to 2,000 shp.
The Australian civil register for 2002 listed 45 Dash 8s.
- Australian Regional Airlines Index -
Hope this helps!
Good Luck!
KMH