Im about to book my first flight on a dash 8 in Spain. Ive never been in a turboprop except a 4 seat cesna when I was 14. Whats the experience like (besides loud)? Im a little nervous, not sure why just am, but my gf is petrified. Please help me comfort her.

thanks

It's loud. It's pretty uncomfortable usually, depending on seat layout. It's bumpy as they don't go that high. And it's loud.

Oh, and sometimes it feels like that damn propeller is going to fall off.

SOUNDS AWESOME! ill make sure to let her know

<edit> go c's

Did anyone mention LOUD? Oh yeah, I guess so, but it needs emphasis. But it has stayed in the air when it was supposed to and it has always come down when (and how) it was supposed to, so that makes it an excellent aircraft! But very, very LOUD.

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Well the cessna probably was not a turboprop...

So there is a bit of a jump in technology ^

Yes these are noisy a/c but I've been ona ton of flights with QX (Horizon Air) in the pacific northwest...

Oh, and you will have a smaller cabin so hopefully there will be better service then a big airliner...

I'd take a Dash 8 or Q400 over a CRJ anyday. Yes they can be a bit noisy, but the cabins are a reasonable size for small regional aircraft. On a CRJ I can't fit into a window seat, the curvature of the airframe is too tight, but on a Dash 8, no problem. As far as the bumps in flight, both Dash 8's and RJs can be bumpy at times. Still give me a Dash 8 over a CRJ anyday.

mpc1

they are loud, so try sitting in the back

Dash 8 is MUCH better than a CRJ. I just did two Dash flights on CO EWR-BOS. Not bad. My computer bag easily fit underneath the seat, and the seats feel more padded than the CRJs (maybe this just means the plane in newer, or that's how CO ordered their Dashes :-)

Is it comforting to know I call it the Dash4 because after about 20 trips on these, I very often end the trip with half the number of working engines?

Got another one on sunday, first one in about a decade! Let's see if my luck holds out ... (normally I avoid them, I'm a bit superstitious! This one was meant to be a Fokker100 but I looked recently and it's been swapped out).

I suggest your friend bring a pair of ear plugs if her flight is going to be over 30-40 minutes.

I used to fly often in a Saab 340 Turboprop. Basically, this is how it goes:

You get on board. This is done using stairs that are built into the plane. You have to walk on tarmac � no airbridge today. Then people who haven�t travelled on the plane before find their large rollaboards don�t fit in the overhead bins. Arguments ensue about whether or not the bags will need to go in the hold. Some passengers will then be moved to make the plane balance. Eventually things quieten down. In the winter, you will discover that the heating only works when the door is closed. The door is not closed when the plane is on the apron. An engine starts and the plane starts to vibrate. It is noisier than some people might expect. Then the other engine starts and the noise increases a bit. The plane starts to taxi � quite nimbly. You get to the end of the runway. The engines which you thought were going full tilt suddenly ratchet up � the noise becomes louder and slightly higher pitched, and the vibration becomes faster. You pitch off and the nose lifts. You�re airborne. After a while, you arrive at your destination, the plane touches down and taxis to the apron. The engines are turned off but the propellors still turn for a bit. You have to remain seated with your seatbelt securely fastened until the propellors have spun to a stop. The door is opened, the stairs deployed, and you walk across the tarmac, slightly disorientated, buzzing, tingling, and with your ears ringing a bit.

I miss my turboprop hops.

Thanks for your overview, now where's the car rental counter? I think I may drive instead.

I flew them twice weekly in and out of SBS for four months. They are very safe but a noisy ride. I chatted with a pilot one day who told be that the plane has a terrific safety record.

Mrs. FlyforSAP is a nervous flier and was quite uneasy with the sound and the bouncing around going over the mountains. I suggest noise cancelling headphones and maybe something medicinal for the nerves.

Good luck!

Thanks guys, i got a pretty good laugh from these replies!

Anyways, I feel slightly better now that people actually kinda (and i use kinda very lightly) like these things.

..as you are right beside the engine...just upping that pre mentioned noise factor.