Dash 8 Series 300 Stretch Prototype Makes Its First Flight

• Bryan Gibbins's record of C-GDNK (c/n 001) says the first Dash 8 prototype was converted to the 300 prototype with a 3.43 m fuselage stretch, an extra starboard service door, bigger galley and lavatory, wing-tip extensions and 2,380 shp PW123 turboprops, and first flew in that form on 15 May 1987^[1]
• The same airframe was withdrawn from use at Las Vegas in September 1989 and broken up at Van Nuys the following March^[1]
• Airways says the Series 300 followed in May 1987 as the first stretch, seating 50 to 56, and that the 200 later combined the -100 fuselage with -300 engines^[5]
• BAE Heritage lists the -300 as entering service in 1989 and 267 built; production of the 200 and 300 ended in 2009^[2]
• Boeing had bought de Havilland Canada in 1986, so the -300 was developed under Boeing ownership before Bombardier acquired the company in 1992^[4]

Notable features

• Series 300 (the Bombardier Q300 data sheet covers the later production aircraft): 50 to 56 passengers, two PW123 turboprops of 2,380 shp^[3]
• Length 84 ft 3 in (25.70 m), wing span 90 ft (27.40 m), wing area 605 ft2 (56.2 m2), maximum take-off weight 43,000 lb (19,505 kg)^[3]
• Maximum range with 50 passengers 924 NM, high cruise 287 kt, ceiling 25,000 ft^[3]
• FAR take-off field length 3,870 ft (1,180 m) at sea level, ISA, maximum take-off weight; landing field length 3,415 ft^[3]