Qantas Link DHC Dash 8 Q400 economy trip report - Sydney to Port Macquarie (4K)

[@C2K777]

Only one ginger was sunburnt during the making of this video. WELCOME BACK - Great to see you flying again fella

[@PaulStewartAviation]

haha cheers

[@dashcamfanatics]

you had the best view, love seeing the landing gear on the Q400. love to see it retract.

[@JB-mk4ry]

Love the hum and feel of the Q400... One of the few aircraft I can get good sleep in.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

absolutely

[@noahs6488]

6:13 Those grey blurs look to be RAAF Boeing E-7A Wedgetails, which are based there.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Well spotted ;)

[@alexc2485]

From No. 2 Squadron RAAF.

[@thelandofnod123]

At RAAF Base Williamtown (rather than Williamstown)

[@qffan6319]

Not P8 Posiedons?

[@alexc2485]

@@qffan6319 The P8s are based at RAAF Base Edinburgh with No. 11 Squadron.

[@60frederick]

I am happy that you could fly again! You have had a good seat to make a video and to look out of the window. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your wonderful video with us.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Frederick!

[@60frederick]

@@PaulStewartAviation - I really would like to visit Australia one day. The view out of the window is always awesome.

[@Jp_Fly1]

Really cool to see this from a passenger perspective.

[@TalkingPlanning]

Great to see you using this time to showcase regional flying! Aviation and travel is definitely hurting, but glad to see some responsible, local flying underway! So many people get caught up in luxury flying so it's great to see regional flight reviews. I hope to do some more regional flying again soon!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers - glad you enjoyed it. Please share it as these types of videos don't do as well with youtube analytics so the advertising revenue is less, so less flights :(

[@davidp1288]

Great to see your back doing aviation videos. Looking forward to seeing more from you. Given the pandemic restrictions I imagine they will be mainly in Australia or New Zealand but that’s fine. Love the channel

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers David. Yep I doubt I'll be going anywhere outside of Australia and NZ for the next 12 months. I don't imagine Aussies will be travelling to Europe and North America until 2022ish at the earliest.

[@ralphyhk]

oh how I've missed this guy

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate

[@AvgeekCarGeek]

I so need to get back to Australia soon and fly the 200 & 400 series Dash 8

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Absolutely! I've already booked two more flights on Q400s for later this year haha.

[@karlossargeant3872]

I would Love too Fly on The Bombadier Dash 8-400's Turboprops soon whenever travel again Awesome Video!!!!

[@mattlindsay6974]

I love the look of the Qantas terminal at Sydney Airport.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yeah it's always cool seeing the 504K and the view from the lounges is great

[@jamessmith6402]

Great to see you back in the air 👍 thanks Paul good trip report

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers James - good to be back

[@OutandAboutwithCraig]

Another fantastic video Paul. I was looking forward to flying the Dash 8 from Sydney to Coffs Harbour this December to visit family, however due to the hard border closures here in WA, I had to cancel our trip. Maybe next year. Cheers from Perth.👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Craig.

[@russellgray1426]

Would like to have seen the smile on take off, but I feel the muzzle may have detracted from the image. Nice to see you back cobber

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Russell

[@Sanznachito]

Great review.. missing your footage so I’m pleased you’re able to travel a little more. Another very successful and comfortable flight 👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers mate

[@grooveyman]

Hey! Mr Stewart is back. Awesome. Look forward to more of your videos and adventures in a (sort of) post-COVID world.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers

[@tmsala59]

Sweet Video Paul! I'm A Lounge Guy! Love Airport Lounges! Glad To See This One In Operation! She Is A Beautiful Aircraft! Beautiful Views Indeed! Thanks Paul! Stay Safe My Friend! 💖💕

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Thomas

[@hamishmcdonald7275]

Paul, wonderful to see you back in the air! Nailed the best seat on the Q400. Structurally so sound! Let’s all get flying again......

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Hamish

[@janetbruce2430]

Another fascinating video Paul. The views of the east coast were impressively captured. The background information at the start of the video was also quite interesting.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rpm1796]

Great cover..always loved flying on her as a passenger, as well in the Arctic, into very remote strips.💨

[@hughrothwell7522]

Hi Paul. Great to see you back in the air. Flights up the east coast are always a treat in nice weather. Cheers.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Hugh

[@tavita8699]

Your back Paul...Yahoo!! Great review again. I love this type of aircraft. I've yet to fly on the bigger version of this plane having only flowen many domestic flights within New Zealand. Nice day for flying. I hope the skies become busy again especially over Perth

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers. Yep it was a perfect day for flying. Fingers crossed I get similar weather when i eventually fly over to NZ and do some Dash 8 flights over there.

[@seanp7dc]

Bom-BAR-dee-ay, mate :) Good report. The Q400's do their job quite well. Taken a few to Wagga Wagga and EWR-YYZ a few years ago. Welcome back to the skies.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers haha yeah I knew the internet would let me know how to pronounce it :)

[@gekkhiophua4337]

Amazing view from the aircraft! Love the Qantas roo near the engine!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Same here! Glad you enjoyed the views

[@jamesroussell7940]

The snack you received was the exact same “meal” that was served on my flight from Perth to Broome back in September. Yummy

[@PaulStewartAviation]

So good!

[@MrJimmy440]

Another great video Paul. Thank you for all you do. I love seeing videos from “ down under “. I can’t wait to visit again in the next few years when things settle down a bit.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Jim

[@glennrichardson9926]

Great to see you back in the air Paul. Nice to see Lake Macquarie again. As a kid I lived for a few years in Swansea just south of the lake and remember seeing the old Areopelican Twin Otters flying to Sydney from the airport on the southern side of the lake.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Glenn.

[@steveplanesnlego9055]

Makes me realise how much I love flying. Airports with their hustle and bustle. Look forward to my first flight since Canberra 747. 8 weeks and counting. ❤️🇦🇺✈️💯🦘

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Absolutely Steven! The noise, smell, queues...etc everything I miss.

[@Mrham-vm4sx]

Same

[@justforsheba]

I have flown the Q400 many times here in British Columbia. Always amazed at the load the landing gear absorbs on touchdown.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yeh I love watching the landing gear on landing.

[@markrichmond4796]

Hey Paul, great to see you back. My wife and I fly out of Newcastle regularly....love watching the Wedgetails (The Grey Blurs) and F18s do their thing as we wait for our flight.....and all for free😉

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Mark.

[@CB-ke5ev]

Another great video Paul! There were some great views!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers mate

[@davidcole333]

I love your turbo prop reviews. They are so much fun to fly.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Dave. i hope you've seen my Q300 flight vlog in the opposite direction :)

[@oldflyer1743]

Great video Paul! I'm really enjoying the window views now that you're filming in 4K!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate

[@sandipgupta88]

paul I am in Melbourne covered by 25km travel limit... seeing you flying .. gives me happiness to see at least we can eventually get there

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it Sandip

[@philyoung5893]

Another high-quality video and voice-over. It's especially good in 4K on my big screen.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Phil. Yep the new cameras are working a treat - I'm very happy with them!

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Great stuff. 👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

@@PaulStewartAviation I watched your video on my flight from Alice Springs to Adelaide today. 👍 Got a great view of all the aircraft next to the runway at Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage. 😍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

hope you enjoyed your flight

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

@@PaulStewartAviation Yeah, it was great. Two for the price of one ... the Darwin to Adelaide flight has a 45-minute stopover in Alice Springs. So I got breakfast and brunch. ;)

[@qffan6319]

Another great vlog Paul! We've missed you!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

More to come!

[@tonytowers5889]

Heyyyy Dr cobber, welcome back, good to see you))) Very enjoyable video.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Tony

[@workhardtravelharder9313]

Another interesting video Paul! Great to see some fantastic views of Sydney!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers

[@shauncampbell969]

Wow! You filmed a video. Let me watch All the best Shaun of NYC

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Shaun, hope you enjoy it

[@daveu88sanderson8]

Hi Paul It's great to see one of your reviews again. Keep up the great reviews my friend we need more of them. I was trying to book a flight to Perth from the UK to see my sister to be told there is nothing until 2021 as the borders are closed in sunny OZ. Stay safe DS

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate

[@747kp7]

Great to see you in the air Paul! The new gopro works a treat!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers

[@kbroadhead10]

Great views of the side of the engine! NIce to see you back flying , even on this short flight. I haven't flown the DAsh in years, but my wife managed CFS-SYD in a q400 last month!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Kent.

[@radhaerc]

Great video! Interesting to see the lounge changes due to COVID-19 and arguably for the better!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers TJ

[@HDChristchurchaviation]

Great video mate!!!, it's great to be able to watch more videos of yours and can't wait for more!!!, keep up the great work ;)

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate

[@tompatterson5159]

Great footage and good camera shots

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Tom

[@NeilsCarsAviationTravel]

Nice review Paul. The only Dash 8 I’ve been on was a Flybe one last year. There was a lot for NHV though which wasn’t very comfortable.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Neil

[@carolfarrington1146]

Great to see you back Paul 😀

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Carol

[@gordonchef]

Wouldn't you wish Sydney Airport was like that all the time! Great video, makes a Dash-8 attractive actually 😁👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers Gordon

[@NowGetThere]

What camera are you using? Nice and smooth

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Sony handy cam for the vooming but the vast majority is a gopro 9

[@NowGetThere]

@@PaulStewartAviation Nice. thanks for sharing. The zoom is very smooth on that handy cam

[@chipphotography3243]

GOD DAMMIT! Saw my fave Q300, SBG. Miss that machine

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Keep an eye out for my return flight on a q300 🥳

[@mitchellgibbs1465]

Paul is back! I've been waiting so long for this 😁

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Mitchell

[@heathertruskinger6214]

Great to see you flying again 👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Heather

[@EmperorAmun-Ra]

Good to see you Paul, missed your vids!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

cheers mate - good to be flying again

[@huysaviation477]

Nice video as always! You got a really nice wing view on a DHC-8. You're super lucky to fly on it because it's quite a rare plane since not much airlines have it on their fleet nowadays. When the plane landed, I was like: "Really? Is this Ryan Air or Qantas Link?" as the pilots landed the plane so hard. Thanks for sharing your interesting trip report, well-done!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate

[@FlyingvisitsBlogspot]

Great to see a new video! I'm missing Australia and unlikely to be able to visit from the UK for a while yet - if you're looking for ideas it would be amazing to see a REX trip to Broken Hill (destination for my first ever Australia trip 15 years ago), and/or to Kingscote Kangaroo Island (a stop on our honeymoon about 8 years ago). Keep up the good work!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate - I'll look into those other routes. :)

[@brownsound23]

Welcome back Paul! Did you choose 13A specifically for the turboprop view or was it a premium packed flight? Would’ve expected a WP like you to be front of house!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate - sadly I've dropped down to Gold due to the lack of flying. I selected that seat to see the landing gear although in retrospect I should have sat further forward.

[@davidcartwright5591]

Good review Paul . I like the Q400 , my type of aeroplane 😀.. there’s little time difference between the Q400 and a jet over that type of sector length , the Q400 can get along pretty well . I flew down to ADL where I am now from SYD yesterday and the almost deserted SYD domestic terminal was a very sobering experience , very sad to see . My best wishes .

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers David. Yep it's sad to see SYD so empty although I was actually surprised to see so many people in the business lounge.

[@iain1969]

Welcome back Paul. We've missed you

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Iain! It's great to be back flying

[@planegoesvroom2835]

I've sat in that exact seat in the Qantas business lounge!

[@Bad_Karma1968]

Paul excellent vlog !

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks Ted!

[@CallumMcKain]

Great to see you uploading again

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Callum

[@_tim]

I enjoy flying to Newcastle for this specific reason of their airport sharing the runway. You can be sitting in the lounge waiting for your plane to arrive and suddenly a bunch of fighter jets take off one after the other in front of you on the same runway. So cool to see up close like that. As for the Dash8... I don't mind them. Much. Depends on the flight - I only ever fly on them to and from Gladstone when I travel from Brisbane, and the descent into Gladstone over the hills can be a bit wild at times. Aside that, they're a pretty nice little aircraft.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

That would be very cool at Newcastle! I've never flown from there but it sounds like I need to!

[@enigmaticmeloncholy]

Another great video. Thanks for sharing Paul!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

Thanks for another interesting video, do you find the Q is actually quieter, for a turbo prop? Reminds me of a flight from Armidale to Sydney in a F27 Fokker friendship many years ago, love the large windows.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Hi mate, to be honest it's difficult to tell if it's any quieter than non-noise cancelling turbo props. The most recent Saab 340 has active noise cancelling too.

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

@@PaulStewartAviation Just on the NTL Williamtown airport, I live in the Central coast and have flown out of there several times .It's a nice freeway drive with three set of traffic lights (red if you are unlucky) no tolls, more affordable parking and a saving of about 28 sets of lights. Just needs the airlines to expand the choice of destinations. I have seen takeoffs/ landings of F18 and wedgetails , F18 takeoff is impressive at night with the afterburners alight.

[@DOMMIILL]

Those grey blurs are E-7A wedgetails. Airborne early warning radar aircraft. Modified boeing 737’s

[@HenrysAviation]

Great trip report Paul!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Henry

[@keithsmith4059]

Q is for #Qantas 🤣 Food is in the Lounges, better as a service meal compared to high volume buffets 👍 imo. Glad to see your great vlogs back. Love 💓 the cathartic drum of the Q400. Better food than the 3 hour LRE BLT BNE

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks Keith

[@jasperlaw26]

Great video Paul! I went to Byron bay a last month and the airport was very eerie! 👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Jasper. Ah yes I considered visiting Byron but Port Mac was cheaper haha

[@Toffa1985]

Nice video mate. Is it normal for smaller aircraft to start the takeoff where it did?

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers. Yeah sometimes they cheat and only use part of the runway if they know they don’t need much

[@sincerelysim]

Was due to fly on the Dash-8 Q400 soon up to HTI but flight has been changed to a QF flight on a 737 instead of Qantaslink. Bonus is that we can now fly in Business which wasn't available on the Dash-8 Q400.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Well the 737 is a lot more comfy, although not as fun. :)

[@chipphotography3243]

It was always a QF flight number, some days now its gone to a 737, some days its still the Dash 8-Q400 :)

[@lindarodgers8403]

Very helpful video, Paul. It would be really great if you could include placing a maximum size bag for Dash 8, in the overhead bins v under the seat. I have had problems, depending on where I'm sitting, window v isle, and which Dash 8 I'm flying on, 300 v 400

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Noted :)

[@hassantaha8183]

I truly miss flying. My last flight was with Qamtas 747 to Tokyo and back to Sydney. In December.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Absolutely. :(

[@2adrianpo]

Good video , giving me an idea of flying post Covid , showing the terminal & a lounge ,, as a Victorian it may be awhile before I can fly

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Adrian. Sadly you're probably right. I suspect most other states will be a little nervous about letting you guys cross the borders.

[@2adrianpo]

@@PaulStewartAviation I have a Qantas credit from a cancelled flight & they have extended my Qantas Club by 12 months , I’m hopeful that we can fly in January maybe even late December

[@peterwilms1395]

I flew in a DASH-8 on a vacation trip to Croatia 10 years ago.

[@Igamerfellow]

Wonderful video, Paul! Real question though, when you coming to Coffs Harbour? 😏

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Adam. I actually considered Coffs but it was too expensive haha :)

[@Igamerfellow]

@@PaulStewartAviation Damn. Makes sense though. Have a good one!

[@smaxwell4062]

Thank goodness QANTAS has kept these craft flying. They have proven to be a lifesaver for the regionals. I believe Port Macquarie is thriving in these tough times in the tourism sector. I also read recently that Bombardier have made a modification to the overhead storage bin lids to allow larger carry on luggage. I wonder if QF will adopt these? The smaller overhead storage has always been an issue on these aircraft.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

It's true and domestic tourism will be the main type of tourism over the next 1-2 years I suspect.

[@JBAviation]

Yay Paul is back!!!!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Good to be back :)

[@JBAviation]

@@PaulStewartAviation That's 👍

[@PhysicsAirline]

Nice to see you wearing your RM's again :)

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep, I wear them most days :)

[@isaacfung622]

6:18 Qantas finally brought back normal meal service

[@scotty11782]

Thanks Paul

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers

[@Jordan-ox4vb]

Hey Paul, are you by any chance going to the Fly Pelican Inaugural at Port Macquarie on the 1st of November?

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Hey mate, no I wasn't even aware of that being the inaugural. I thought those flights were already happening.

[@Jordan-ox4vb]

@@PaulStewartAviation They are doing Canberra to Port Macquarie Direct starting November 1st

[@stevendurick9441]

You know we are returning to some degree of normalcy when Paul says, "above your seat you'll find individual overhead air vents, which are nice"

[@PaulStewartAviation]

hahah

[@awesomeaviation2325]

Great video, I have always wanted to go on a dash 8 bu have never had the opportunity to as they do not operate on a route that i would go on in western Australia. I have a small channel and was wondering if you would like to have a look at it, you don't have to. still great video

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate, I'll check it out. :)

[@2Stonefly]

3:32 Nice boots man!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

haha cheers

[@robertgilaard574]

I am always curious to know how the cabin sound of this DHC Q400 is compared to the jets like 737 and a320

[@PaulStewartAviation]

It's much louder and rougher than the jets

[@autoboxesw2622]

Nice video Paul, I’m looking forward for my first flight this year in next month credit to the stupid COVID 19.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers mate - where is your flight to?

[@autoboxesw2622]

@@PaulStewartAviation Whyalla and Port Lincoln

[@roberthamilton1301]

Thanks !

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Welcome!

[@ausfsaviation5182]

its likely that those aircraft at the airbase where probably RAAF KC-30s or military Airbus A330-200s.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

They’re Wedgetails 😄

[@adenanwasli61]

How many seats does this flight has?

[@Calebs_Aviation]

At 6:14 they are Vercical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL Jets) Hawker Siddley- Harriers

[@Calebs_Aviation]

Thanks Paul

[@PaulStewartAviation]

I'm not sure they're Harriers. None of those in active service with the RAAF. ;)

[@johndornoff]

I have flown the Q400 several times with Horizon/Alaska Air and I think they are fine especially between PDX and SEA as you get great views from them of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. The Qantas economy service is currently better than domestic first class in the United States 🙄.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yes I've seen a few amazing photos of aircraft around that region flying next to some impressive mountains. Unfortunately it always seems to rain when I visit Seattle?

[@johndornoff]

@@PaulStewartAviation Best time to visit the Pacific Northwest and have the least chance of rain is July or August.

[@troysta747]

Rex will soon be flying to Port Mac

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Interesting!

[@margaretroselle8610]

Super!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers Margaret

[@robloxgamesandmanymore7307]

Is this during the covid 19?

[@PaulStewartAviation]

A few weeks ago

[@NowGetThere]

You got the same luggage as me ;)

[@PaulStewartAviation]

haha it's a common design and colours. I must admit that I've accidentally grabbed someone elses bag who was similar to mine. They chased me down (possibly yours!)

[@NowGetThere]

@@PaulStewartAviation ah classic! Many years ago I flew to London Heathrow and someone took my bag by mistake and traveled home to Newcastle before they realised. It took 4 days to get my bag back. Had to go buy some new clothes and toiletries.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

wow that's annoying! I hope you had travel insurance?

[@scotthooson1356]

Good 👍

[@AbsolutelyEverybody1]

Its important to know that the Dash 8-400 can cruise up to 360 knots (667 km p/h) which is quick for a turboprop aircraft making this aircraft a great choice for short haul routes instead of using jet aircraft. Plus its cheaper to run on short haul routes instead of a jet.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yeah I must admit that I didn't realise that the Q400 was so much faster than the Q300 until I was researching an upcoming vlog (onboard the Q300).

[@AbsolutelyEverybody1]

@@PaulStewartAviation yep the Dash 8-400 is the fastest aircraft in the Dash 8 fleet.

[@grspotter9923]

Do I have to do quarantine while travelling inside the state?

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Nope not within NSW