Designed as a short-haul transport based on the Dash 7 design, the Bombardier Dash 8 (formerly de Havilland Canada DHC-8) was first flown on June 20th, 1983. Appearing to be a smaller, twin-engined version of the Dash 7, the Dash 8 design placed less emphasis on STOL (Short take-off and landing) capability and focused more heavily on economical operation. The two Pratt & Whitney PW100 engines mated to a very high aspect ratio wing enabled the Dash 8 to offer the lowest cost per passenger mile of any regional airliner of it's era.
