New Dawn for the Dash

摘要

The Dash 8 turboprop airliner family has now been around for the best part of 40 years, initially with the DHC-8-100/-200/-300 variants first developed in the 1980s and latterly in its current-production Dash 8-400 guise. Last year was a momentous one for the programme, as Bombardier Aerospace sold off the aircraft and the associated De Havilland Aircraft brand to Longview Aviation Capital Corporation. The new owner in turn set up De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC) to manage production of the Dash 8-400, previously marketed as the Bombardier Q400, and ongoing support for in-service aircraft. How might the new owner develop the Dash 8-400? What future does it envisage for the aircraft?