Tag Archives: dhc-7

More on the Dash 7 Theme

I had a recent post about a testbed Dash 7. That had resulted from finding some other shots that I was looking for to use in a project. That was regarding two defunct airlines that had operated from London City Airport when it first started operations. The only aircraft that was initially allowed to use the airport was the de Havilland Canada Dash 7. The initial operator was Brymon Airways that, if memory serves me right, was based in Plymouth.

A second operator joined them at LCY with the imaginative name of London City Airways. Their livery included a fin designed to look like a business suit. The target market was city workers that didn’t want to make the trek out to Heathrow. It wasn’t long before there was a push to get jet aircraft into the airport. The BAe146 was the only option at that point and a demonstration was undertaken in 1988. I was there for the CAA and had a chance to get out on the ramp at one point. I got these photos during that visit. The 146 did become a regular feature and then runway expansions allowed a variety of larger aircraft to use the airport with slightly less restrictive approach paths.

Electrifying Dash 7

Leave a Reply

As a youth, the de Havilland Canada Dash 7 was, if not a widespread aircraft, one that was reasonably popular. This was a time when STOL operation was such a big deal with the idea that STOL aircraft would make operations from cities more of a thing. This idea didn’t last long but, at the time, a four engined aircraft with the ability to guarantee climb out in an engine out condition was important which also is why the 146 was a four engined plane.

As the focus shifted to regular airports, twin engined turboprops took over including the same company’s Dash 8. The Dash 7 has hung around in niche uses but they are not easy to find. Air Tindi operates them in Canada and one of their airframes showed up in Seattle a while back. Magnix is a company that is making electric powerplants for aircraft and it is supposedly using a Dash 7 as a testbed. It showed up at Boeing Field for a publicity event. Sadly, I didn’t see it in flight, but it was out on the ramp at the FBO for a while before it was moved into the hangar for the event.

The Backyard at Pima is Interesting

Leave a Reply

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

Leave a Reply

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!

Leave a Reply

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.