QantasLink de Havilland Dash 8-200 / Q200

Until early 2015, the thirty-six seat de Havilland Dash 8-100 / 200 / Q200 airliner operated regular services (RPT and charter) to parts of Central Queensland and the Fraser Coast by either QantasLink or Skytrans Airlines, however, that has since declined remarkedly.

When Cairns based Skytrans Airlines ceased operations at the beginning of 2015, the airline's small fleet of Dash 8 aircraft (100 & Q300) operating out-of Brisbane were flown north for storage however since recommencing limited services after being purchased by Townsville based West Wing Aviation, has to-date restricted operations to a number of Far North Queensland ports only.

Meanwhile, QantasLink completed a fleet reshuffle in the first few months of 2015 resulting in the three surviving de Havilland Dash 8-200 aircraft in the airlines fleet being predominately based out-of Sydney meaning the little flying Kangaroo's are now sighted less reguarly at Central Queensland or Fraser Coast Airports. However, QantasLink does continue to connect Brisbane with Lord Howe Island.

After retiring and selling Dash 8-200 VH-SDA (now C-FEBU) and VH-SDE (C-FEAQ) to a Canadian based operation in 2014 - VH-TQG, VH-TQS and VH-TQX are the three remaining QantasLink littlies.

Of interest, the Dash 8-200 / Q200 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW123D turboprops allowing a typical cruise speed of 290 knots (334 mph, 537 km/h), a service ceiling of 25000 ft (7620 m) and an approximate range with full payload of 1065 miles (1713 km).

 

 

 

 

All further photo's depict ex-de Havilland Dash 8-200 VH-SDE. This aircraft has since been retired from the QantasLink fleet and exported overseas.