Overhead

Bombardier (de Havilland Canada)

Bombardier Dash 8 Q400

Flybe Dash 8 Q400 climbing away in side profile, showing its high wing, T-tail, and twin six-blade turboprops against a stormy sky.
© Alec Wilson · CC BY-SA 2.0

From below

The view you'll actually get from high overhead.

Flybe Dash 8 Q400 seen directly from below on takeoff, showing the high wing, twin propellers, and stretched body.
© Adrian Pingstone

Field marks

  1. High wing, T-tail, and visible spinning propellers rule out every regional jet at a glance — the props vs. jets split is the first thing to check
  2. Distinctly longer and thinner body than an ATR of similar role — it looks pulled out compared to the ATR's boxier tube
  3. Large 6-blade Dowty propellers (4.11 m diameter) look noticeably bigger and spin faster than an ATR's props, giving it a quicker, more purposeful look on approach
  4. Cruises faster than any ATR variant, which shows in a more swept-back stance even though the wing itself is unswept

Specs

Length
32.83 m
Wingspan
28.42 m
Engines
Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A
Typical seats
68–90

Size and shape, to scale

Photos can't hold a consistent scale from shot to shot — these silhouettes are all drawn at the same 10 px = 1 m scale, so the proportions here are trustworthy even though the photos above aren't.

Variant notes

  • The largest and fastest member of the Dash 8 family — earlier -100/-200/-300 variants are smaller and mostly retired from mainline service
  • De Havilland Canada now owns the Q400 program after Bombardier sold off its Dash 8 line in 2019
  • Horizon Air, PAL, and many European and Asian regional carriers keep large active fleets

Commonly confused with