de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7
de Havilland Canada · Canada · first flew 1975 · airliner
The DHC-7 Dash 7 is a 50-seat four-turboprop STOL airliner, the only high-wing four-engined short-haul airliner designed specifically for urban STOL operations from runways as short as 600 m.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fixed main undercarriage on a deep slab-sided fuselage designed for inner-city STOL strips with 600 m runway requirement |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-50 turboprops on a high straight wing — unique among regional airliners of its era
- T-tail with a large swept fin and high-set horizontal stabiliser above an unusually quiet slow-flying STOL airframe
- Fixed main undercarriage on a deep slab-sided fuselage designed for inner-city STOL strips with 600 m runway requirement
The only four-turboprop high-wing airliner in this size class — four engines on a straight wing instantly identify it. The T-tail and overall slab-sided proportions resemble a scaled-up Twin Otter, but four engines and 50 seats leave no doubt.
Specifications
- The de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 has a length of 24.54 m (81 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.35 m (93 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 428 km/h (266 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
De Havilland Canada flew the DHC-7 prototype on 27 March 1975, entering service with Rocky Mountain Airways in 1978. Its four-engine layout was chosen not for power but for propeller speed reduction: slow-turning props generate far less noise, crucial for inner-city airports. Only 113 were built before production ended in 1988.
Variants
The Dash 7 Series 100 seated 50 passengers; the Combi Series 101 carried mixed passenger and cargo loads. A military surveillance variant, the CC-132, served Canada. No stretched version reached production.
Where you'll see it
Air Canada Connector and various North American commuter carriers flew the Dash 7 from downtown STOL strips. UK and European exposure was limited; City Airways and Brymon Airways operated examples into London City Airport and Heathrow's Terminal One STOL pad, exploiting its exceptional short-field capability.
Related aircraft
- Dash 8 Q100
- DHC-6 Twin Otter
- de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
- de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
- Boeing 747SP
- Yakovlev Yak-42
- Douglas DC-9-50
- Falcon 50
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