British Europeans Dash8 Q400

[Featherleft]

I was very impressed with the new Aircraft British European have at Birmingham. The cabin was very spacious and alot quieter than the BA Erj jets I have been travelling on recently. Talking to a positioning pilot, he told me that they climb to cruising altitude a lot quicker than most jets, cruising nearly as fast, but burning nearly half the amount fuel.

Well Done.. . <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[launchpad]

A lot better than the old brazillian cigar tube. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Hand Solo]

Well if you're travelling on a dash-8 then I'm assuming you're travelling from Scotland to BHX. If thats the case then by timing your flight correctly you can travel on a shiny new BA A319, instead of one of those appaling BACE Erj145s. I think the only reason a DH8 climbs to cruise altitude quicker than a proper jet (I don't include the ERJ in that category) is because it cruises so low. Having spend this evening being restricted to impossibly low speeds due to trailing a DH8 I can assure you they don't travel at anywhere close to the speed a proper jet does. I apologise that our management short-sightedness requires you to travel on an ERJ when flying BA, but I hope that in the future you'll have the opportunity to experience the excellent A319!

<img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Xenia. .Cabin Crew & SLF Forum Moderator

[ 01 March 2002: Message edited by: Xenia ]</p>

[Xenia]

Hand Solo, the topic is about BE new aircraft! not about BA ERJ or A319! . .If you like to start a topic about how wonderful your fleet is, be my guest..... .Is it just yourself being polemic or you just don't pay enough attention to what you read?? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[ 01 March 2002: Message edited by: Xenia ]</p>

[flybhx]

BE still have to decide on a replacement for the 146's whilst BA are replacing the BHX A319 with ....146's.

The BHX - Scotland route will make an interesting comparison in the not too distant future

[Tiny Clanger]

I flew BHD-BRS recently on the DH8 (can't remember the series) but it was a vast improvement on the F27s that BEA had on the route a few years back, more comfortable (esp on the ears), smoother and faster. To be honest, apart from the time factor on longer sectors, it's probably as good if not better than most of the jets used by the UK airlines at the moment. Definitely one of the better decisions made by the BEA management. But they've got to do something about the "cocktail savouries", yeeuurrgghh!. .. .Soup!

[AdamUK]

I often fly as a passenger in the 146 (Air France coded) between Birmingham and Paris - nothing better.

[pitotheat]

Featherleft,

I am pleased you enjoyed your flight on the 400. It is indeed an impressive aircraft, the only thing in common with the Q200 and Q300 aircraft in service with BE is the name - Dash 8.

For those who want to know the performance details it climbs at approximately 220-240 KIAS at 2-3000 fpm depending on weight. It cruises at 25,000 at a TAS of 360 knots, approximately mach 0.6. Regional jets cruise at typically 0.65 to 0.75. It uses approximately a tonne of fuel per hour, about half the fuel a BAe 146 uses. Over a typical 1 hour sector the jet will be less than 5 minutes quicker. The company has recently taken out a row of seats giving extra legroom to the remaining 74 passengers. It has the latest glass cockpit avionics. In the event of an engine failure it will out perform the Q200/300. The economics of the 400 allow it to operate more frequently on routes with lower seat occupancy giving the customer greater flexibility over travelling time.

Its one and only drawback is customer perception. When they walk out to the aircraft they see those propellors and think they are getting on to a converted Lancaster bomber not one of the newest, high tech aircraft on the UK register.

So thank you Featherleft for allowing me to spout on about the aircraft, spread the word.

[AOG007]

Pilotheat,

Hear, Hear,

Ex-Brymon, and loved the Dash. Not had the opportunity to travel in the Q400 yet, but certainly looking forward to it, whenever my next trip arrives.

Hand Solo,
You sound like you fly the A319, yet you spout absolute crap!
Go and read your Bae146 manuals, must be time for ground school soon!

:mad: :mad: :mad: