Why Do Dash 7s Still Fly in Canada?

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The de Havilland Canada Dash 8 is a widely popular regional turboprop aircraft that has sold in the hundreds and thousands. But before this regional success story came another aircraft.
That aircraft is the de Havilland Canada Dash 7.
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FLYING THE DASH 7: • FLYING THE DASH 7 IN 2...
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SOURCES
Dash 7 History and General Information
www.skiesmag.c...
en.wikipedia.o...
United States STOLport Concept
www.nytimes.co...
www.nytimes.co...
apps.dtic.mil/...
Air Kenya
www.airkenya.c...
British Antarctic Survey
www.bas.ac.uk/...
Dash 7s Registered in Canada
wwwapps.tc.gc....
Transport Canada Dash 7
www.tc.gc.ca/e...
www.forces.gc.c...
Trans Capital Air
www.skiesmag.c...
globalnews.ca/...
transcapitalair...
Air Tindi
airtindi.com/o...
Braden, B. (2018). The Air Tindi Story: Flying The Burgundy Tail For 30 Years. Yellowknife, NT: Air Tindi Ltd.
DC-3s and Parts
www.airspacema...
Viking Air and Dash 7 Type Certificate
www.vikingair....
www.aviation.ca...
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Outro song by Nyhtian: / @mylor.x
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2019
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission.
MEDIA: Please contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.

[@AlexPraglowskiAviation]

Hey everyone, hope you enjoyed this latest project of mine! Just wanted to say a big thank you once again to Nathan Taylor at Air Tindi for willing to do that short interview with me! The audio isn’t great since it was recorded on the ramp in Vancouver (next to a very busy runway), but I think it adds a lot to the video. Thank you for watching, and have a great day :)

[@tengu190]

Antonov makes some impressive STOL planes that could be used as replacements.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@@tengu190 >>> Getting spare parts from another country on the other side of a large body of water in a timely manner _can_ be a problem....

[@tengu190]

@@Allan_aka_RocKITEman Plenty of AN-72/74 currently in service and the AN-32 is a pretty rugged plane, high parts commonality with AN-26 I think.

[@andytaylor1588]

@@Allan_aka_RocKITEman Well, perhaps someone could devise a quick form of shipping...like aviation or something?

[@coop5329]

Dash 8's and DeHavilland Otters were always my favorite planes as a high-mileage passenger. Stable, smooth, and safe; good in bad weather and on sub-optimal runways. I'd much rather be in one of these than a commuter jet like a CRJ.

[@cr-yi7ep]

If the Twin Otter is back in production, because nothing else fills quite the same niche, one can only wish the same could happen for the Dash 7. A lovely little airliner.

[@kimchipig]

In 2001, I had the opportunity to fly in a Dash-7. It was from Manila, Philippines, to a short strip in Caticlam, Aklan province to go to Boracay, before it was spoiled. The strip is only 800 m long and was closed shortly after. The pilot handled that Dash-7 like a fighter jock. First he came in steep and fast, buzzing the goats and water buffalo off the strip. Then he did a 180 and plopped in on the strip in 400 m. As I got off the plane, I saw him in the cockpit and I asked him, "How many metres was that?" His beaming reply was. "About 400, sir." I replied, "Fun?" and his reply was, "Yes Sir!" That aircraft was crashed at Manila soon after.

[@2101case]

Checked out that crash. No fatalities.

[@xiaoka]

Too much fun!

[@paulwessel4813]

I used to fly Dash 7’s for Hawaiian Airlines in Hawaii. Always loved that airplane.

[@663rainmaker]

Paul Wessel aspen airways flew Dash 7 into CYS oftentimes great bird! But I am still a Twin Otter fan! - Ground Speed and gaining altitude fast out of CYS heading to Denver Stapleton or Jeffco! Or? I got to see the early days of Fed Ex flying out of JeffCo in a Cessna 421 into CheyTown CYS, Adam a Incredible Pilot and the trips... But these Dash 7 was a new bird back then and I was impressed with its performance and dependability

[@andytaylor1588]

A plum job, to be sure. Good on ya!

[@kirtreeves7777]

Actually Rocky Mountain Airways flew the Dash 7....Aspen Airways flew Convair 580 and BAC 111.

[@kludgeaudio]

Did Hawaiian fly Dash 7s? I remember Mid-Pac Airlines flying the things and they were very solid and reliable, even flying into Molokai.

[@MyDash7]

Paul Wessel Hi sir, how about the simulator Dash7?

[@TechnikMeister2]

Its like asking why do Twin Otters and Beavers keep flying? They are great freight and unpaved strip workhorses. And why old Fokker F28 Friendships still flying in Africa after service in Australia from 1965. No composite plane will last 60 years and still be airworthy. You can just keep re-engining them forever.

[@alexm566]

don't all planes have maximum number of pressurization cycles?

[@jvaneck8991]

@@alexm566 Yes, but if you keep it below 13,500 ft and do not activate the pressurization system then you have no additional cycle on the airframe. Lots and lots of short hops can be economically made without going "upstairs." And it can actually be faster than first climbing up and subsequently coasting back down.

[@alexm566]

@@jvaneck8991 yeah but that's not related to it being composite or traditional.

[@stlcardinalsfan8260]

There are no f28s in Africa. Some in south America and southeast Asia.

[@winniethegoldenpupper1834]

Also there are a bunch of old f28s in Saskatoon just sitting there

[@robbalboni4179]

always loved the look and style of the dash 7;s a versatile 4 engine turbo prop and glad to see they are still in service where they are needed.

[@OceanDriveSpeeder]

As a former UAL employee in Denver, I flew Rocky Mountain Airways Twin Otters & Dash 7's from Stapleton (DEN) into Aspen Colorado on my days off. Love flying in those aircraft. I sure miss Rocky Mountain Air. Those 7's and Otters could drop into Aspen's short runways, so much fun!!! I really miss those aircraft.

[@cleekmaker00]

And the former Avon STOLPort! 8°glideslope!! 😮 RMA was the International Launch Customer for the Dash 7.

[@kenunderwood4266]

I worked for Air Wisconsin when we flew 15 Dash-7s. I loved those aircraft and they were instrumental in how much we were able to grow. I wish we had kept them longer than we did.

[@danillumjrgensen3865]

I flew in a Dash-7 ages ago in Greenland. Nice to see the red plane lives on for a little while more as an Air Tindi plane. You can't mistake the Greenlandair livery :-)

[@danopticon]

You can’t beat those De Havilland craft. If I were handed unlimited money for my choice of aircraft, I’d still buy and fly a Twin Otter… queen of the STOL aircraft!! The Dash 7 does look very, very neat, but I don’t need the extra passenger space or wide cargo doors - I’d rather have the wide choice of landing gears / even shorter approaches and takeoffs the Twin Otter affords… plus, as long as the company that bought the Twin Otter’s patents stays afloat, there’ll be no shortage of parts, AND a new model will come equipped with the latest avionics… but the Dash 7 is a beautiful, beautiful plane! Great video, thanks for posting it!

[@philipbyrnes7501]

Someone once said “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”. Sounds like someone listened, neat, thanks for sharing this mate, well researched and presented, thank you

[@svengilson]

Working in the mining industry, we used to hop around in Twin Otters all the time, landing on gravel strips in the front yard of the Exploration camps. Amazing plane! Also Turbo Otters, the famous 737 200's, bunch of stuff - but never got to go up in a Dash 7. They briefly flew out of a STOLport in Montreal, but as the vision died, so did the airport and the DHC-7's with their particularly unique sound.

[@DominicRichens]

I remember these from when I was a kid, with my father worked at Pratt&Whitney on PT6A variants and with de Havilland for the Dash 7. That was soon overshadowed with his work on the PW100 series for the Dash 8, especially the PW150 which was just a beast! Last year my daughter moved to Yellowknife and as a news reporter got to fly in a Twin-Otter for one of her assignments - I was so jealous! Then her boyfriend got a job as a loader with Air Tindi, flying in Otters, Caravans and 7's.

[@johnlukemills7181]

If you want to experience Twin Otters, check out drop zones. They are an extremely popular jump plane. I have been on 500+ up only flights. The takeoffs can be great fun, especially with an inflight door open right beside you. The jump planes are like birds. They go south for the winter.

[@Jtheb784]

I used to work for City Express Airlines based out of what was formerly known as the Toronto Island airport..now known as Billy Bishop. Dash 7's where the aircraft we used till Dash 8's . We where the first airline to accept Dash 8's. The 8's where great but like all new aircraft they had there faults. The 7 never let us down!!. Shame to hear that this strong and highly adoptable aircraft is fading away. Thanks for your vids

[@Patmofar]

I had the privilege of flying in one in Chad in 2011. It was pot luck as to what would turn up to lift us from our UN camp beside a gravel runway. At various times we flew in Spanish Casa 235's, a Greek C130, a French Transall, a Russian Antonov 12 and, to my delight, on what was to be my second last internal flight in Chad a Canadian Dash 7 arrived to take us to the airport at Abeche to board a Spanish MD-80 to N'Djamena for my last flight before travelling home. I never thought that I would get to fly a four engined turboprop and as I have already flown in a twin Otter it now leaves only the beautiful Beaver on floats to complete my DeHavilland bucket list.

[@zachUK]

I flew on an Air Kenya Dash 7 from Nairobi to Diani Beach (and back) last year. Very nostalgic for me as I remember when De Havilland did a tour with the prototype in the mid-70s across Canada ... I saw it at Kamloops, BC when I was about 10 years old.

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

I fly Air Tindi a lot. On all gear, regular, tundra tires, floats and skis. The Twin Otter is awesome. A great aircraft. But there’s something special about the Dash 7 that you have to fly to experience. It’s a fairly large plane, considering what it can do, and where it can go. I’ve been to Mould Bay and various other northern destinations, and it’s always a treat. Always puts a smile on my face. Thanks for making this video, and highlighting such a great aircraft and operator. (Go Tindi!)

[@privateaccountforthemultiu9790]

I love Canada.

[@MadeiraAirport]

The Dash 7 is a great plane and very versatile and adjustable.

[@Awol991]

Viking Air is a great Canadian story. Picked up a whole bunch of designs from De Havilland. Chipmunk, Otter, Beaver Caribou Buffalo, and Dash - 7. Still building some of these designs as new and supporting parts for the rest. "Viking owns the Type Certificate for the DHC-7 and provides parts and support services to the fleet worldwide"

[@thomasmoffatt]

Flew a Dash 7 between Ottawa and Toronto Island Airport a couple of times around 1984. Impressive performance.

[@chuck8835]

Way back, I was often a Dash 7 passenger in and out of Colorado mountain airports. A great aircraft. The roughest air I ever experienced in 35 years of frequent flying was over Loveland Pass in a 7. I would say that we got to a wing over of 45 degrees. The 7 was like a rock. Like the Twin Otter, it was almost like going in and out on an elevator. The video mentions the ATR42. Continental bought several for service to Jackson WY. They got rid of them in that on hot days at that altitude the could only use up to 60% load factor. Low power bird. I have to add that a pilot crash landed a Twin Otter near Steamboat Springs by pancaking into a snow covered hillside at a final 40mph. No fatalities.

[@m-a-l-3000]

I remember seeing an Air Wideroe DHC-7 landing in Bergen Flesland Airport (Norway) and it needed not more than - lets say something about - 150 meters from touching ground to fully stoped. Really an impressive aircraft. Would absolutely love if they would be built again, and i can imagine, that there is a huge market around the world for such a versatile and capable STOL-aircraft.

[@michaelbevan3285]

I flew on and off Das Island, Abu Dhabi in one of these in 1997; a huge gas refinery undergoing an overhaul. 5,000 workers lifted on and off by a small group of Dash 7s. Excellent aircraft.

[@derekinbritishcolumbia1449]

Great review of this versatile machine. When working on my PPL, we had one visit Guelph air park. Amazing how such a large plane can land in places normally used by smaller single engine planes.

[@DansilSchroeder]

Hey, US Army here, we still use the DHC-7 here for observation!

[@andytaylor1588]

Outstanding.

[@gonebamboo4116]

I worked at Pan Am Express in Philly. They told us some of our dash 7s were going to the Army. That was 1996. I think we had tail numbers 704-711, something like that.

[@thuojw23]

Do you have Soft Copy material for DHC 7 training, We own one and really need proper training material.

[@DansilSchroeder]

@@thuojw23 you know, I might see if I can't dig one up for you from the MI battalion on the fixed wing ramp. I'll let you know

[@gonebamboo4116]

@@thuojw23 No, gave it all up years ago Thanks for asking

[@davidbeattie4294]

Loved the Dash 7. I used to take it from Toronto Island Airport to Ottawa in the 80's and found it smooth and quiet. I hope the current Certificate Type holder can do something with De Havilland's incredible legacy.

[@JCsaves333]

My Brother in law was a captain on a Dash 7 with AirBC in the early 90’s. I had the privilege of flying with him in the jump seat. Such an awesome aircraft with a very amazing flight envelope. Let’s hope that Viking aircraft can keep this truly amazing aircraft alive. I hope that more customers would demand the need for it. Thank you for sharing this video I really enjoyed it. BTW there are lots of crazy small air strips up in the Canadian artic. Would be cool to video them.

[@hugostiglitz6914]

Las year I flew on a B737-200 combi in Canada. As an EASA aircraft engineer with B737 ( all series) approval I had not worked on a B737-200 for years. I was really surprised at the condition of the aircraft. It was in great condition and did not look its age. Testament to the great maintenance system Canada has.

[@MaShcode]

Such a great plane. Continental Express had them. They always flew no matter the weather or runway conditions. Basically a Mack truck with wings.

[@kirtreeves7777]

Yep, one snowy night after I deiced one I swear the pilot had it airborne in about 200 feet, must have used full flaps and max power, I never saw one take off like that in all the Dash 7 takeoffs I watched at ASE, and I WAS WATCHING, because I was worried....it was snowing like 4" an hour....lol

[@tonypearce1876]

I flew as a flight attendant on the Dash 7, for the then Air BC ( now Air Canada Express). We had a base at YYJ ((Victoria). 1988 , until they were replaced with the Dash 8. Great times.

[@alainbellemare2779]

took those Vancouver Victoria flights at least twice a year

[@seoceancrosser]

DeHavilland made some fantastic aircraft! I’m a fan!

[@david4x-ear198]

Arkia Israel Airlines had several Dash 7s in service about 15 years ago, and I would take them from time to time on internal flights and saw one parked in Tel Aviv a few years ago.

[@mamdouh-Tawadros]

I live in Manitoba, and without these intermediate size planes, many towns in our province would be cut off. Thanks to our great pilots, our excellent mechanics cannabilzing on old planes to maintain a healthy fleet, our towns are connected from north to south all year around.

[@travisgamble8765]

I remember when NorCanAir out of Saskatoon used to fly these to serve northern Saskatchewan...I also have seen these operate out of Yellowknife as you have shown. They are rugged, solid aircraft with a good track record. I am glad there is still some needed use for them.

[@claudelabelle7099]

I don't ever recall Normal Air ever flying deHavilland Dash-7. I do remember them flying Folder F-27.

[@kirtreeves7777]

I worked ramp for Dash 7's in Aspen, Colo when Rocky Mountain Airways and then Continental Express flew them to Denver Stapleton. We always had to get that tail stand out of the cargo hold fast as it stopped and passengers started to move aft! Lol It was a great aircraft....but as I recall it had about a 2200 lb aft cargo hold and with 46 to 48 seats and the skis, boots, and luggage, well we had to run semi and box trucks to bring the luggage. Passengers were NOT pleased! Those were the days a non-rev could fly jumpseat if the seats were all full, which I did once coming to Aspen.

[@JohnnySemor]

I was working at Diavik and got so use to the short take off of the Dash 7 that whenever I would fly on a jet I would get nervous because it took so long to get airborne. That and I would fall asleep when the turbo props all got going.

[@DaBlazesUSay]

FANTASTIC! Very well done, I especially liked how you kept the script interesting without talking down to us or putting us to sleep. I am happy to subscribe!

[@kevinstephenson3880]

Great video! I will forever remember my one and only flight on a Air Wisconsin Dash 7. What an amazing aircraft.

[@charlesbarnard2744]

Still have fond memories flying on Allegheny, Ransome and Pan Am Express late 70's - 80's, I especially miss the takeoffs and landings of the Dash 7

[@fhuber7507]

For the same reason DC3's are still used in some places. No good replacement for the task.

[@petermichaelgreen]

Ultimately the market for flying heavy loads to remote corners of the world is pretty small, so it's difficult to justify designing and building new planes for the task. Even producing a minimally updated version of an existing design can be a non-trivial task.

[@shawnzfpv]

This reminded me of Buffalo Airlines too!

[@AEMoreira81]

Largely in areas like Alaska and northern Canada. Everts Air still flies the DC-3 and now-depressurized DC-6s around Alaska on milk runs.

[@allangibson8494]

The replacement for a DC-3 was the DC-5 (sold by Fokker). The DC-5 was replaced the Fokker F-27 and the Fokker F-27 was replaced by the F-50. Then Fokker went broke.... DC-3 replacements exist - and eventually wear and tear will take them our of service.

[@allangibson8494]

@Pentode7591 Unfortunately persuading Boeing to dust off the drawings to build a new one may be a little hard (although given their issues with the 737 they may have the room in the new year). The DC-3 is also non compliant with the current European airworthiness rules for passenger aircraft - the wings are four inches too high off the ground for over wing exits without inflatable slides. Engine and airframe parts are also getting hard to come by too.

[@hanspaabor3226]

I remember it flying at the Canadian National Exhibition (Toronto) airshow in the late 70's. It did a slow fly by that I remember as being just about soundless. I guess they were trying to make the point that regional planes would not create a lot of neighbourhood noise. It did steal the show in my opinion.

[@pablopeter3564]

Thanks for your great video. It brought me nice memories of the late 70s and early 80 when Golden West, a Southern California commuter air line, used lo land in Fullerto Airport, CA where I studied to become a pilot. Now I day I am about to retire as an airline pilot after flying for 43 years. Greetings from Mexico City.

[@daletonner9035]

I flew last year on a combi with Air Tindi to Eureka weather station carrying a new generator , They pushed against a head wind for five hours . Brutal flight . I dont know how those guys do it everyday.

[@Agislife1960]

Love the four engine configuration, something not well know is, with four engines you can actually do a three engine ferry back to your maintenance base if you loose an engine out in the middle of nowhere. The DC-6 operators in Alaska have done that for decades.

[@allenmurray7893]

I've never seen a Dash 7 in actual use, but it's nice to see some still operating.

[@raltrt4098]

In the early 90's a group of us working at Field Aviation YVR designed a set of skis for the British Antarctic Survey Dash 7, and added a bunch of retracting antennae and cameras/scanners to some other Dash-7s. Then around '95 at DECA Aviation Engineering we added structure for geosurvey equipment to an ex Maverick Air Dash 7 - large wires strung from a nose boom to wingtips to a tail boom forming a diamond shape. The nose booms were made from large aluminum tapered tubing originally meant for streetlamp posts. Fun super interesting work, all done on the drafting board (no CAD) and by climbing around in and on the aircraft measuring and taking 'rubbings' (tape a sheet of mylar on the skin and shade with pencil to get the rivet locations). Would have been great to see the skis built, but the BAS money ran out.

[@ndtpropguy5548]

Great Video Alex, love your work. The Canadian Air Force had 2 Dash 7's stationed at CFB Lahr Germany in the 1980's. Not sure when they first got there. They were replaced by 2 Dash 8's in about 1986. Dad worked on both and has some really good pictures of the 2 flying together when the 8's showed up and the 7's were leaving.

[@kajagoogoogoo]

Worked for Henson which was the regional for Piedmont who operated 7's and 8's they were tough planes.

[@Hornet135]

kajagoogoogoo kind of crazy Piedmont (formerly Henson) just retired the Dash 8’s a little over a year ago. That’s a long run.

[@andyrbush]

Been a passenger many times in the Dash 7 and Twin Otter flying to Das Island

[@joenugro]

I used to fly with dash 7 in 90's. The only one of its kind. No plane can compare with it. Superb performance in take off and landing.

[@shawnz241]

This is an awesome video about a vastly under appreciated aircraft.

[@thetwopointslow]

I watched one of the British Antarctic Survey DHC-7s come in to land here in Wichita one day (presumably coming in for maintenance), it was a pretty awesome sight. I can’t imagine the route it must’ve taken to get here.

[@RayLabs]

Used to fly Dash 7's in Tonga. Darn handy craft and can fit itself in just about anywhere.

[@walterfink9782]

Thanks for the great video. The planes in this video, are really still needed, all over the world. I've flown in them, years ago. They can't be replaced! Thanks again.

[@ingerlander]

I did twenty years illustrating the spare part manuals of all the Dash 8 series spare parts manuals. I am proud to say that at least 700 illustrations of mine are in those manuals

[@ytlaviation5409]

Air Tindis dash 7 is the best! I live in Big Trout Lake Ontario A remote community only accessible by winter roads and air travel. We’ve had our freight and essentials brought in a couple months ago by air tindi as wasaya airways couldn’t catch up on freight so they rented out the dash 7 from Air Tindi. It was a great opportunity to see that aircraft in person, and I definitely hope it keeps flying for another 10 or so years :DD Great video.

[@kenunderwood4266]

We operated these aircraft with Air Wisconsin Airlines. They were wonderful airplanes and helped us grow into a major carrier in the Midwest. They remain a well loved aircraft by the veteran employees of Air Wisconsin.

[@FarmerTed]

If you’ve ever seen one takeoff or land you’d not need to watch video. I did anyway because I love this aircraft. Used to watch air Wisconsin use these in passenger service in the 80s

[@pinaricyt]

I love all De Havillands! They are all great performers. I learned a lot about the Dash 7. Great video! Thanks!

[@claudelabelle7099]

What a great airplane. I truly enjoyed working and servicing the de Havilland Dash-7, while employed with Time Air.

[@robcormier7272]

The transport Canada surveillance DH7 flies out of Moncton now. It has a dedicated hanger for Atlantic operations on the south side of the airport. Very nice aircraft.

[@ThatCodeBlue]

Great work, Alex! Very good research!

[@Code3forever]

I have flown on the Dash 7 back in 1980 or 1981 from Fort Wayne, IN to Chicago on Air Wisconsin. I liked the idea of four engines and was amazed at how fast it took to the air. It seemed we went down the runway for a few feet and were then air-born. It was a fairly short flight but I really felt safe with the four engines on this plane. It was a full flight with close to 50 passengers but the performance was excellent. I felt the same in the mid 80s flying the BAE 146 with PSA. It also had four engines and it was reassuring to me flying from Burbank to San Francisco. The only other aircraft I can think of which could perform like the Dash 7 would be the An-72 or 74. I don't know how hard it would be to license in North America but I understand it has great STOL capabilities and can carry a good payload as well as passengers..

[@MyDash7]

I have been fly Dash7 since 1984,,,Great aircraft,,,,,,I loved it

[@easer777]

The cutest, prettiest, coolest and most amazing passenger-aircraft ever build, and definitely the best sounding aircraft overall, love thát RRRRRR that it makes sometimes, it take me straight back to my childhood where Maersk air operated them. -And as someone once said, the wet dream of all bush-pilots.... X-plane has a quite good model, but the sound is completely off, if just someone with the resources and abilty did a sound-package for it....

[@leifvejby8023]

Reminds me, in 1982 - 83 I did a lot of work at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, and we would see them passing right over us when departing from runway 30 - and we would hardly notice them!

[@andytaylor1588]

Perhaps, in time, FS2020 will have the Dash 7. One can dream.

[@ghabtan1939]

Reminds me back to old Widerøe times..

[@USNveteran]

Only flown on a Dash 7 once and it was a great ride, as was the Dash 8. I liked both of them and preferred them to the 50 seat regional jets even if they took longer to get to their destination. With regard to the DC-3 I believe Basler in Oshkosh can manufacture any part for a DC-3 and can also zero time an airframe. FLY NAVY!!!

[@SearTrip]

The Dash 7’s glory days include the 4 Left stub at JFK. Pan Am Express flew Dash 7s i to JFK in the 80s & 90s. They had a waiver to land on RWY 4L at JFK to hold short of 31L, while there were aircraft on 4L on the other side of 31L, waiting for intersection departures on 31L. So they were landing nose to nose with those jets waiting to depart. Dash 7 is an aircraft that instills a lot of confidence with all around it.

[@Bartonovich52]

I would hope so... because Porter is landing Q400s with barely more room and water off each end.

[@flyingbarrel1949]

Flew in an an Air Wisconsin Dash 7 way back in May 1984 on my way from NYC to California. Can't remember between which cities. I had a USD 75 roaming standby ticket which was valid for a month.

[@JoeFard]

The National Aerial Surveillance DHC-7 had some of its advanced equipment installed by Voyageur Airways of North Bay, Ontario.

[@EPL762]

From 1991-2001 I flew this plane as a charter flight from the company where my father worked on an open-pit mine in northern South America. I learned the company retired the plane in 2005.

[@ChoySekMunSimon]

Here in Malaysia, there's a sole Dash 7 that was operated by one Berjaya Air, a listed conglomerate that used the plane to service the short pave airstrips on their island resorts at Tioman and Perhentian. The competitor to Berjaya were using the smaller capacity Dornier 228s using the same air strips for the other resorts on the islands.

[@jacintoumali8714]

nice video. it reminded me when i flew in one of these in papua new guinea from port moresby to bulolo (gravel strip). it was 1980s on air niugini.

[@SkyblueAviation]

What an interesting video Alex! I really enjoyed this one, I didn't even know there were still Dash7 operators in Canada... That makes it another plane to ride on my bucket list! Thank you for sharing this work, and keep it on going! :D

[@DimasHaryoGustama]

I used to fly in this plane. A flight connecting my hometown to the main city in Borneo. It was great flight experience that you can't get in other region. Unfortunately the flight get replaced by an ATR 42 before and now is suspended because end of contract. The plane is the one that sold to Air Kenya. The local registration was PK-PKT owned by non airline company and mainly used as a employee transportation to larger airport connecting to other larger cities. Thanks for this great video reminding me of Dash 7.

[@MafuraG]

Wow I didn’t know the aircraft is so rare! I saw it recently at Wilson airport in Nairobi.

[@aldinocellini2608]

Just wanted you to know that I liked this video because I have had many flights on the dash 7 go to and from Saba - St Eustacius & St Martin in the Caribbean - it is exhilarating to see the list to land on service runway which is only 1300 feet long and on the side of a cliff on an island that is only 5 mi.² of surface area. The Netherlands Antilles airline WinAir operates these craft quite well. I would love to see a video on the Dash 7 and for you to experience the landing!

[@flyguy905]

always great to see you post Canadian aviation content! HUGE like!

[@bobherron4573]

Hi Alex Many thanks for doing the Review into the Dash 7 Are there any DHC -5 Buffalo or DHC -4 Caibou still flying in Canada - USA ?

[@29Mucker]

What a beautiful aircraft! Thanks!

[@BadenAirTraffic]

Nice Video - and very interesting to see the Dash 7. I remember the times a Tyrolean Dash 7 flies to Courchevel Airport in the Alps

[@BELCAN57]

The four blade propellers are 24 PF models manufactured by Hamilton Standard (now Collins Aerospace) of Windsor Locks, CT USA.

[@macscotsman51]

I was a Dash-7 flight attendant in the 1980's. We flew routes all over southern & northern California. Home base was LAX. Awesome crews, awesome trips, awesome airplane. So many good memories. I love that airplane! Thanks for the video.

[@idingbat2678]

Love the Dash-7. Used to fly in them to Lerwick, then an S-61 to the rigs.

[@mountainman5173]

Fantastic looking airframe.

[@AEMoreira81]

Another good video might be why the Dash 6 was resurrected and why it is still the best plane for its missions. (Both new Dash 6s are being built and another company is offering a rebuild that zero-times the frame.)

[@danchesney631]

Fleet Canada Inc. produced a large percentage of the adhesive bonded exterior skins & flight surfaces for the Dash-7. At the time, they were supplied directly to deHavilland Canada. Fleet Canada is still a significant supplier to Viking Air. The only limitation to the production of new airframe parts would be the availability of original tooling.

[@asafkuller383]

Love this plane. The first plane I flew in, as 12 year old child from Tel-Aviv to Eilat (one hour flight). The Dash-7 were operated by Arakia in the 80's.

[@noahfremont6310]

I fly out of Billy Bishop and I had the chance to see one of Trans Capital Air's UN Dash 7s. It's really cool to see these aircraft, and it's quite large in person.

[@gryph01]

My 2nd cousin was a demonstrater pilot for the Dash 7. He loved that plane.

[@Guerry-3]

Thank-you Alex for sharing this with us. I appreciate your concise but very informative narration about a phenomenally vital tool of the air transport industry. I cannot help but wonder how popular the design would have been had the Dash-7 continued with improved variants using today’s design and production standards. Although I am not able to speak for others, for flights to locations deep inside of extensively undeveloped areas, I certainly do feel more secure flying with 4 engines instead of two. I have always found the characteristics of STOL performance interesting. One thing that contributed to the Dash-7’s STOL capabilities was the tremendous prop-wash effect of 4 propellers over the wings that contributed lift at low airspeeds. Thank goodness Viking Air continues to keep the Dash-7 and other aircraft on life support. Although the model might have a new designation, I can see the possibility that someday a real smart aeronautical designer will emerge with improvements to again make the Dash-7 competitive. Until then, I’ll keep my fingers crossed. For it would be a shame to have this great design to completely disappear. Thank-you again for posting this, sir! I am looking forward to your future posts.

[@ryandejong1669]

Came here for the Tindi Dash 7. Flew it a few years back and made me feel a little nostalgic.

[@GrummanRV]

Good job Viking Air for getting the rights for all these DH planes.

[@otyliciu]

I'd bet money there will be future beaver production trough Viking...but, not yet - from a business standpoint, DHC made TOO reliable an aircraft with that one and drowned their own repeat business opportunity for generations to come.

[@ttystikkrocks1042]

Thanks for the great video and informative discussion about the Dash 7 and the niche market it operates in! One would think that there would be more demand for aircraft with its capabilities. African aviation and perhaps Latin American operations in rural areas come to mind. I guess it's a matter of knowing the airframe exists and having the money to buy it, both tall hurdles for small operators servicing out of the way places.

[@andresreyes5398]

Alex you always do great videos hats off to you for a great product.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

I got a chance to fly in one of Trans-Capital Air's DHC7 aircraft during a pilot strike at what was then Air Ontario. The company chartered a couple of Dash 7s to keep up at least a skeleton service to and from the regional airports around the province.

[@shannonwittman950]

*There might be carrier-able turboprop planes that could do similar. The GRUMMAN C-2? I doubt its in production anymore, so any available would be "pre-owned." *The narrator said that the issues with the Dash 7 were 1) no real need for STOL transport airplanes since no networks of STOL-ports were created, and 2) the four-engine config was not economical enough. Its prime mission nowadays seems to be military/governmental (they have money for gas), for use into remote, rugged airstrips around the world. *Could DeHavilland Canada reconfig the Dash 8-100 to be a STOL airplane? I guess that would have to include more rugged landing gear and STOL wings. Fascinating video about a fascinating and utterly unique modern airplane! Kudos to Alex Praglowski Aviation for compiling so well!

[@robertwalker3087]

Being made in Canada, I suppose it has to do with pride. I used to fly the Dash 7 into the terribly difficult Pitkin County airport in Aspen, CO. It was like riding an elevator.

[@kirtreeves7777]

Hey former Rocky Mountain, Continental Express pilot, I worked ramp in Aspen winter's 83-90.

[@mulletclub]

Used to travel in these from Aberdeen to Unst in the Shetland Isles before flying by helicopter offshore. Had the shortest runway I've ever landed on.

[@otyliciu]

Seeing as the Twin Otter is back in production, I can see a comparable current generation aircraft being developed around the modernized Viking Air/DHC Twin Otter. The result would probably be very similar to the Dash 7 although, from a design and production/development and cost savings standpoint, it is probably easier to develop a 'new production' aircraft from what is already in production (as the old Dash 7 designs would have to be hashed considerably in order to cut out old and embrace new tech').

[@NatesRandomVideo]

The STOLPort materialize, and the initial DASH-7 orders went to the operator who created a number of them: Rocky Mountain Airways. The company created two STOLports to serve ski areas, as well as working with DHC on the specs for the DHC-7, as well as pioneering things like Microwave Landing System and some of the first GPS approaches. There are some audio-only interviews floating around with the RMA CEO describing this history, prior to their acquisition by Continental and operation as Continental Express. Neat video about the aircraft.