The Dash8 is a workhorse & very safe. I'll do it anyday^

^^

Well done! And agreed on all counts...though I have boarded a Saab 340 by airbridge before (at SHV, IIRC).

Turboprops really are workhorses, aren't they?

There's nothing glamorous about them. The image of a frequent flier is someone strutting the worls in jumbo jets, sipping champagne in exotic departure lounges.

I smile to think that I got to BA Gold status using only turboprops (and two domestic sectors on a jet if I am totally honest - but also two sectors on a Twin Otter) in and out of airports with no business lounge. And it made me smile, after I stopped that route, to be able to access the F Lounge in T5 a few times - just a different world to the grind of commutes on a turboprop.

But you do get fond of turboprops - and you get to know the cabin crew pretty well. And they are small and informal enough that the pilots can do things they wouldn't do elsewhere. For example, one balmy summer evening, our pilot took us on a low altitude detour over the north of Scotland (Gairloch) and swooped the Shiant Islands - just because he could.

I am on Dash8's a lot in Africa. They are okay. I do wear foam earplugs. In fact I wear earplugs on all flights regardless of aircraft (or my headphones when needed).

I like flying dash 8 - lower altitude = better views. I have lots of flights on these (and smaller a/c).

Haven't flown a Dash 8 for a long time, for that matter, it has been a while since I have flown any kind of turboprop. But I actually liked them.

They are noisy - it is actually better to sit behind the engine than in front of it. But not by much. Get some noise canceling headphones - they will make a big difference.

They are about the size of a small RJ, but the cabin itself is actually a bit more spacious. They feel taller to me, and have a more upright cross section. Seats are airline seats, service depends upon the airline.

They are a bit bumpier, particularly because they fly lower. But the fact that they have overhead wings actually improves things a bit. It does give a different feel to take offs and landings, though, since the fuselage sits lower to the ground.

They are great for looking out - larger windows, and because you don't have the wing in your way, you can see down more clearly.

I love Dash-8s. Try to get a window seat under the engine cowling - You can watch the landing gear raise and drop, and watch the wheels contact the tarmac. Great fun - Here's a short video that shows what I'm talking about:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff_a...ia/2401493523/

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Yes- I can stand up in a dash 8 ^!

I'll be flying one of these for the first time on the 23rd. Could someone perhaps tell me if maybe there's a possibility that the noise level might be some form of.....loud? I think this thread is telling me something, but I can't quite put my finger on it....

I was recently on a USAirways Dash 8 from SYR to PHL in seat 1-D, which is an emergency exit row so LOTS of leg room! Get this if you seat if you can!

Where I live most of the service is Dash-8's or CRJs and the seats on the Dash 8 are DEFINITELY more comfortable.

As for the noise, YES VERY LOUD......BUT I this is the kind of noise that noise cancelling headsets work best with, constant low frequency...so if you don't own a pair see if you can borrow some...definitely worth it on these planes....

I find the in-ear earphones better than my Bose headphones at cutting out noise. Haven't used my Bose in 2+ years.

Even the NRR 33 earplugs are pretty close to the Bose.
Interesting fact about Bose is that conversations come in pretty clearly (for better or worse - if you're next to a talkative pair).

Whilst turboprops are a bit noisy, they're hardly deafening and IMO talk of earplugs or headsets seems a bit OTT. I have been able to chat happily in Turboprops.

I agree with everyone who's said that the Dash-8 is better than the CRJ. Much better cabin. I don't really notice the noise after a while...

I've only been on one once. It kinda felt like I was stepping out of some 1950s movie, which was an added bonus :P

We flew in the Q400 variant on the BHX-JER route over Easter, so flight time of just under an hour.

We were seated in row 2, so not certain if that makes a difference, but wouldn't regard the plane as really loud.

This is exactly the thought we had - we felt we were somehow dressed incorrectly in jeans ansd sweatshirts.

It was odd but nice to have miles of legroom and the noise was loud but far more intimate and appealing than a modern jet.

We had slices of cake served on a silver tray and the whole experience was 'charming'.

(this was on Austrian, Vienna to Salzburg)