Tag Archives: dhc-7

The Backyard at Pima is Interesting

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The museum at Pima is well stocked with interesting aircraft. However, the backyard beyond the fence for the museum area also provides some interesting stuff. Some of these things are going to be museum exhibits before too long but I am not sure all of them are. During my last visit, there were a few things of note when peering over the fence.

Probably the one that will get most attention is an F-117 Nighthawk. It was sitting alongside a SEPECAT Jaguar (big fave of mine) and an F/A-18C Hornet. There was a Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Orion and I think that was in for some work rather than ready to be displayed. Another P-3 was there in AWACS configuration as previously used by the Coast Guard. The fuselage of a Tunnan was close to the fence while a pair of Dash 7s were sitting without engines. An old United 727 was further off as well. What an amazing collection of stuff to get as a bonus during a visit.

A Dash 7 Almost Catches Me Out

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We saw a variety of planes in Kenya and Tanzania.  This one I didn’t get too close to but I was really happy to have caught either way.  Dash 7s are pretty few and far between these days.  There are some up in Canada that I would love to get up to see but the last ones I saw were in Toronto and looked stored.  This one flew overhead and I grabbed a few quick shots.  Oh to have seen it touching down on one of the rough strips.

Dash 7s Still Exist!

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Coming across something old school is fun.  Go back through the Canadian aircraft history and you come to the Dash 7.  This four engine turboprop could achieve some pretty dramatic steep approaches and departures.  It was the first aircraft to operate in to London City using a 7.5 degree approach angle.  The Dash 8 family was the replacement for the Dash 7 and led to the Q400.  I flew on a Dash 7 in 1994 in a US Air Express flight between DC and Philly.

You don’t seem them around anymore but, I came across a couple of them in Toronto.  They were parked up at Billy Bishop Airport around the back of the terminal.  You can see who has been using one of them based on what is written on the side.  I assume these two are stored awaiting their next tasking but maybe they are more active than I realize.  I hope they still get good usage.