6'4" who routinely travels from Toronto to Thunder bay, the Dash 8 is simultaneously a great little puddle jumper and yet so cramped. You develop a complicated relationship with that damn plane.
Luxair Dash 8 Q 400 from London City. Alex that would make a good comparison video to our "regionals". I also agree looking forward to Porter E2's and hope we get year round service to YYT.
UPDATE MARCH 14, 2024: I am genuinely surprised at the number of negative comments. This was Alex’s adventure; he shared it with us and took us along. Whether or not one sees it as “stupid” is subjective. I really feel that if you couldn’t say something nice perhaps you needn’t say anything at all. ORIGINAL COMMENT: The only thing that bothered me was how many times Alex described his trip as "stupid". It wasn't stupid; it was an adventure. An adventure only other avgeeks could truly understand. I have so much admiration and respect for Alex; he took the challenge and made it happen. Bravo, dude.
Lack of common sense or good judgement? Definitely. Willingly choosing to be a sardine in a tin can with two blenders spinning next to your head for hours on end certainly isn’t smart in my estimation.
Now this is how you do Canadian content. Travelling across the country onboard the most prominent workhouse aircraft and using the opportunity to make jokes about the places you visit. Narrowly avoiding death with those Canada geese and “things to do in Regina: leave” had me rolling. Great Vid Alex!
My father was the Lead Avionics Specialist who developed this aircraft at De Havilland amongst several other airplanes in his career. He was awarded a place in Canadian Aviation History at the Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
That's crazy. I've done this too, across Canada only on Dash 8s, but a) not all in one go and b) I actually had to fly those Dash 8s at one point or another. :) The best part of being a Dash 8 pilot is that I got to see Canada from coast to coast... I'll forever cherish those moments, even though often, during my time doing that I was not happy to be on that plane. I wanted to fly a jet... Little did I know that the Dash 8 is an amazing airplane and I got to see some unique places: Nanaimo, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Kelowna, Castlegar, Kamploops, Cranbrook, Yellowknife, Calgary, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sault St. Marie, Toronto, Windsor, Sarnia, Kingston, Ottawa, Mont Tremblant, Montreal, Quebec, Mont Joli, Bae Comeau, Gaspe Bay, Sept Ille, Wabush, Fredericton, St John, Charlottown, Halifax, Gander, Deer Lake, St. John's... and many more... Nice video Alex.
Flexing the fact you not only toured inside an Air Canada DC-9-30 before it was scrapped but also own an actual PIECE of it...what an absolute legend. Doing all this just for the entertainment of the aviation community is a small price to pay, for salvation. Well done, sir! The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is quite nice. The people who built it thought Saskatchewan would eventually be the most important and populated province, so they built a grand building to reflect their dream...it didn’t work out that way. The Saskatchewan Legislative Building was built between 1908 and 1912 in the Beaux Arts style to a design by Edward and William Sutherland Maxwell of Montreal. The Maxwells also supervised construction of the building by the Montreal company P. Lyall & Sons, who later built the Centre Block in Ottawa after the 1866 Parliament Building was destroyed by fire in 1916. Regina was previously called Wascana from a Cree word that means "Buffalo Bones" but was renamed to Regina or Latin for Queen in 1882 in honor of Queen Victoria. This decision was made by Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise, who was the wife of John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll, the Governor General of Canada at the time. Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, the same year Alberta became a province, both carved out from the Northwest Territories. The Dash 8 really is a workhorse. It may not be the most comfortable plane, but they’re fun! So many lives have been affected by that plane in the best way possible, and for that you got to love it.
As "technologically obsolete" these aircraft are, they are still a pleasure to fly on. To me, they take you back to a simpler, more raw era of aviation. The D8 is a little workhorse which many fail to appreciate. Thank you for carrying this task out and sharing all the small and big details through this amazing journey of yours. We have an amazing country and are blessed. You've gained a new subscriber. Keep up the fantastic work.
@@BennyGeserit Please see that I put that word in quotations. I mean a simple comparison to jet other aircraft used to fly regional routes that are more "modern" with jet engines, fly by wire systems etc.
What a great Canadian aviation adventure. It was fun, and a privilege, to come along for the ride(s). I've lost count of the Dash 8 flights I've taken so far; to and from the 3 Canadian cities I've lived in Toronto, Halifax and now Kelowna. It's sounds trite to say the Dash 8 is iconic, but it's kind of hard to deny that it most definitely is. Great vid, Alex! Rgds from YLW.
The closest thing I've ever done to this was on an Air Canada DC-9-32 starting from Vancouver to Saskatoon, then onto Winnipeg, then Toronto, finally to Montréal all on the same aircraft on the same day in the late Seventies. The aircraft was adorned with the original delivery livery. Alex, you would've love it!
As someone who is new to Canada and fond of aviation, this was an absolute treat to watch and the hunger to see the country keeps growing! Thank you for doing and making this!
Today I live in Victoria and travel to Vancouver at least once a month. I often end up opting for the ferry + bus combo which works surprisingly well, but prefer the flight overall, especially when I get that great low-altitude view of the gulf islands like you mentioned. I grew up flying around Atlantic Canada on Dash-8's. Fond memories of Quebec City to Labrador City on a Dash-8 as well. Great video Alex!
I also have fond memories of flying into Labrador City from Montreal. That was back in 1967 and the airline was Quebecair. The aircraft was the F27 which as I recall had 36 seats and was quite pleasant to travel in.
I love this airplane! It's the Greyhound bus of the skies. It's rugged, flies off pavement, sod, and ice. The cabin is chaotic and loud... You never have to guess the configuration of the wing or landing gear... JUST LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS!
That's cool you started in Victoria. My uncle lives on Vancouver Island. I always love the 15 minute Dash-8 flight between Vancouver and Comox when I go to visit him.
Epic trip Alex. I’m just back from crossing Canada by train, Halifax to Vancouver, with the ferry (and my daughter’s car) to finish the trip off at Mile 0 in Victoria. It was a magnificent trip across a magnificent country but I now want to do it again in Dash 8s!
Another awesome video Alex. Indeed YTZ-YHZ is long, but PD's former YOW-MLB was the world's longest Dash 8 flight at approx. 3 1/2 hours flying time. In a few weeks time you'll be able to do the Dash transcon without having to go through the "Centre of the Universe" as PD launch YQT-YOW twice daily in March.
The vibration on the YTZ-YHZ leg: vibration with propellers is always max when you are right in the plane of rotation of the props, and it looks like that's exactly where you were. Big # 1 reason why I always go as far back as possible in any prop flight. My fave was a Czech ATR-72 flight where you boarded through the rear door, and that's where the first class seats were -- and only 20% more $$$ than economy, I didn't need persuading!
I've been working on the Dash-8 Q400 as a flight attendant for over 2 years and believe me, I've heard so much trash talk about these aircrafts. Yes they arent the fanciest or biggest planes, but they serve a huge purpose and people dont realize that they would be stuck if these planes weren't around. People have a hard time understanding that there are different size planes and not every plane is a jet. Sometimes people just need to be thankful that they have options available to them. I personally enjoy working on the Q, its a very unique experience!!
My sister is a FA here in Queensland Australia and has exclusively worked the Dash-8 Q400 for many years. I am an amateur transport photographer and love these little workhorses. Indeed many regional, remote and rural airport runways can only cope with the Dashies, Fokker F70 and 100 types. Especially where I am here in Cloncurry, NW Queensland. I'd actually rather sit on a Dash-8 than a B737 for my regional travel as there is a tich more legroom. Getting the right seat is integral, my favourites being 6A or 19A up the back I the Qantas variant.
Trust me, it's us in maintenance that hate it the most. Especially the ANVS system. You fix one actuator, run the test, and an actuator that was completely fine is now failing.
“Plane spotting at Regina” huh I wonder how that would go… “Hey look! A dash-8!” “Hey look!!! A dash-8” “Lads you won’t believe this, there’s a dash-8”
As someone who has grown up on Vancouver Island, almost all of my travels have started with a Dash 8 flight to Vancouver. So cool to see you feature this aircraft as it, for me - and I'm sure many others, has been a prominent part of my Canadian aviation experience. Truly an amazing and very Canadian video!
I wish I found this channel sooner OML. I'm a plane spotting enthusiast from Manitoba. It started after my first and only trip I've ever taken. I was 14, and I went with my grandma and cousin from Winnipeg to Victoria. Even though the entire time I was plagued by severe travel anxiety and likely a bit of altitude sickness, I'll never forget each leg of the trip. We left Winnipeg and flew to Edmonton on a WestJet 737. Getting to Edmonton, I never got to see the tower because this was August of 2017, and I think most of us remember how bad the smoke was on the prairies thanks to the wildfires in BC. Next we did Edmonton straight to Victoria on a dash 8, and I felt a lot better on that flight. Flying over the mountains was an experience I enjoyed deeply and I remember when the land gave way to the ocean as we approached the Island. It was magical to me, and still is. Coming home, we had a 20 minute flight via dash 8 from Victoria to Vancouver. Then we had a 2 hour layover and relaxed until our 737 took us straight back to Winnipeg. The first thing I did at the airport? I went to Tim's and got a farmers wrap. The first thing I'd eaten in 2 days. This was because my anxiety makes me feel nauseous, and I can't bring myself to eat. I barely ate anything the entire 9 days we were in Victoria, and can count the amount of meals I had on one hand. But even amongst these crappy feelings, I felt a sense e of wonder to the whole flight experience, even if I felt a bit gross in the air. Geez I rambled. The point of this whole comment is to say I'm glad I found someone making this sort of content. It lets me look onto a plane in a way where I won't end up in a panic attack. I have since wanted to travel a lot more, but lack of funds and anxiety isn't letting me. Hopefully, I'll eventually get to the point where I can do trips, especially since I've always wanted to see the east coast myself. But you've earned yourself a new subscriber for sure.
Having flown on turboprops from Iqaluit and Clyde River down south far more times than humans are meant to, I can appreciate what you've managed. Long flights on 'em is just awful, and I can't imagine that many Dashes in a row.
As someone who grew up in the rural NW of the US, the Dash 8 has a special place in my heart since that's the only plane our regional airlines used. Q400 til I die
Man, you're a sucker for punishment lol. That was quite the brazen adventure though and kudos to you for undertaking such a challenge. Only one missed connection during the entire adventure, considering the state of our airlines last summer, was nothing short of a miracle. I know there was careful planning on your part but the best laid plans of mice and men as they say. Thanks for taking us along with you, it sure was fun to see all those airport terminals. Well done!
As an alumni of confederation college aviation program, it is sad to see dc9 getting demolished. I remember walking in when all instruments were still attached. Thanks for the video and hope you can try CRJ cross country next?
It is not the stupidest thing you ever did. It is the MOST AMAZING thing you ever did. This is by far the best video you ever did my friend. A true piece of art. I would love to have this kind of adventure.
I took Porter to NYC and absolutely loved the airline and the convenience of the smaller Billy Bishop Airport. Porter is a respectful service unlike the short-haul cattle-class of Westjet and Air Canada.
WOW, this is so well done. The amount of planning, backtracking, and ticketing to fly an all dash-8 journey across the country on three different airlines must have been a very tough job, but I'm sure you found it very rewarding! This was super entertaining. Porter at YTZ is pretty much _always_ delayed, but I'm glad you were able to get another AC dash-8 that got you there! Love all the little details too; definitely did think one of those was a cessna :p
Oh, no need to say anything about putting a "positive spin" about flying across this great nation, if not the 2nd greatest then it IS the greatest! For anyone that ever flew a Dash plane ( such as I in 2018, from Vancouver to Winnipeg), hats off to us all! 😂 Thank you for this great, and also at times humorous, adventure that you solely said "I Did It!"🥰🥰
US Scareways used to fly a lot of Dash 8's out of Baltimore. The one thing I always appreciated, was that the DSH-8 was, and is an EXCEPTIONALLY safe aircraft. Even with a dual engine failure, the thing has like a glide ratio that's insane for a commercial airplane. Never once did I feel unsafe on one, save for the flight through a snowstorm, where the de-icing boots released the built up icy snow on the leading edge of the wings and threw it against the fuselage. However once I knew that was how actually was supposed to work, I never had issues with winter flying on that aircraft. Kudos to the designers and the Canadians for building an excellent aircraft.
"Narrowly avoided death" as you show the great Canadian attack geese. I lost it laughing hahaha. Still watching, just had to pause and comment on that. Great video so far, I would love to do such an adventure.
As a fan of your videos from the Uk, who has visited many parts of Canada including, Calgary, Banff, Montreal etc. thank you for making this epic video! Brightens up my Monday morning start before work! Love your different take on aviation, by far the best Canadian aviation vlogger. Keep up the great content!!🎉
As a person only kind of interested in modern aviation, this was way more interesting than I expected it to be. Also the islands at 24:14 are stunning (Merasheen Island and Long Island for anyone wondering), and visiting them is a new point on my bucket list. Thank you!
Hello Alex, I would like to say a few words. First and foremost. This was the most amazing of "stupid" things I have seen you do on youtube and quiet definitely my favourite video of yours that I have seen! I love the idea of traveling west to east trough all of Canada with only Q400's! Also, I do apologize for the weak performance of Porter. I work the ramp for Porter and back in July we were EXTREMELY understaffed. We (the company) had just started to hire more people like crazy and we all struggled to keep up. We did manage to bring our on time performance up a lot since. Staffing is also no longer as much of an issue as early summer. Lastly, it is too bad Porter no longer flies to Melbourne, FL as that would also be a great video to see! I would also love to make that flight with Porter if they still flew that rout. Anyways, if you do end up reading my comment, thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I hope you have a pleasant day and happy flying!
That sounds like an amazing adventure! Flying across Canada on Dash 8s must have offered some incredible views, especially considering the diverse landscapes Canada is known for. From the bustling cities to the serene wilderness, there's so much to see. It's also a unique way to travel, hopping on smaller aircrafts like the Dash 8, which often allows for a more intimate and scenic flying experience. Hope you had a memorable journey! 🛩🇨🇦✨
Everyone thinks I’m crazy for wanting to ride the train across Canada. Now I’ll just show them this video! Flew a Dash up to Smithers, BC a couple times, and an hour in that seat was plenty for me.
Fabulous and greetings from Ireland. Last in Toronto I visited the Skydome when Blue Jay's played Detroit Tigers and George Bell was one the big stars of the Blue Jay's.
Awesome trip report. Porter has flown test flights between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg, but so far no plans to open another Dash 8 service between the two cities besides Encore.
I know it was a pain, but this was quite a journey. I am originally from YYT and have been to every airport on this journey, except Thunder Bay. I have flown on Dash-8's to all these airports - just not in 5 days straight. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sacrificing your legs, and cash, to make this video for us, by far, you are the best Canadian aviation channel, and we are all so grateful to always see legendary content made by a one-of-a-kind RUclipsr!! Keep up the awesome work!! We love you!!
20:22 I realized earlier you said that you wondered if anyone was reading those and if you’re wondering yes I did and “not a Cessna 172” is just perfect
Wild that someone would do this willingly. I commend your stamina. I can almost see my house in Bridgeland at 8:22, if there was a couple seconds more it would have been super clear. Super cool!
I’m so glad you went to Newfoundland and appreciated cape spear. I live in edmonton but majority of my family lives in Newfoundland, so good to see it again
I remember flying on a Dash 8-100 in search 10c. At first I was disappointed by no window seat when I saw the assigned seat, but didn't realize it was a seat at the back of the plane at the end of the aisle. The definition of leg room. I prefer flying on Dash 8's over the CRJ. I've never had a problem with shoulder room on a plane before a CRJ.
Flown on a dash 8 on Alaska airlines, the service was great, but the seats were uncomfortable and low to the floor, but it’s such a small plane so that explains it.
Billy bishop is my favourite airport in Canada, my favourite in the states is San Diego. It’s right downtown, has great stores at the gates, and ties into public transit beautifully
You want a shorter Dash 8 hop? CYST-CYIV operated by Perimeter Aviation, who operate most of these flights. It's literally an island hop within about 8 miles of each other on Island Lake which has 3 different communities on different corners of the lake. Most would elect to take a boat/snowmobile/helicopter for this, but I've seen it happen where a local gets off in one or the other stations.
Just found your channel and loving your adventures! This one brought back a great memory from 30 years ago when I decided to fly across the U.S. on nothing but commuters. 1 flight on a BAe-146 and 8 on Beech 1900s. Started at KSNA and ended at KJAX.
What a fun video! I am not a plane person so RUclips showing me this was a bit random. Glad it did! I have only been on a dash 8 once over 20 years ago when connecting from Victoria to Vancouver on our way back to Toronto (the flight there had been direct). It was Aur Canada Jazz, I believe. I don't really fly anymore other than to see family. Not sure how many dash 8s do the Winnipeg to Toronto route. I don't know much about planes but I do have opinions on what airports we land in. Right now Pearson is the only real option but last year we flew into Kitchener which was nice. Hamilton is still my favourite. We are flying Porter next month and I was disappointed to learn we are going to Pearson and not Billy Bishop. I grew up in Ontario and had always wanted to try that airport.
For the record, I thought "Dashing Across Canada" would be the best title 😆.
Ha!
Yes!
Love this 😂
Yes! Great idea, love it.❤😂
Lol
As a 6’3 Canadian man living in St. John’s with parents in Halifax, the dash 8 has become the bane of my existence.
Don't blame the plane for that; it's a great workhorse. The lack of room in your seat is the airline's choice.
6'4" who routinely travels from Toronto to Thunder bay, the Dash 8 is simultaneously a great little puddle jumper and yet so cramped. You develop a complicated relationship with that damn plane.
I fly domestic in northern Norway a lot, and I love the legroom of the middle seat on the back row in a Dash8-100 😍 9 rows of pure legroom.
Seat 1B -- stretch right out with no seat and no bulkhead in front of you, except when the flight attendant is in the crew seat by the door.
stop complaining , clean your room
Can we just appreciate Alex for sacrificing his budget and legs for sake of giving us high-quality aviation videos?
His best video to date. I rather Dash 8-400 it than Swoop it or Flair it or Lord save us Rouge it.
Seeing as he got 25k views at .18 per view, he more than made up for it.
@@BennyGeserit I concur. Heck, I'd rather do this trip than another Max 8 across the country.
Luxair Dash 8 Q 400 from London City. Alex that would make a good comparison video to our "regionals". I also agree looking forward to Porter E2's and hope we get year round service to YYT.
I mean, he can write off another week vacation as a business expense… 😂
UPDATE MARCH 14, 2024: I am genuinely surprised at the number of negative comments. This was Alex’s adventure; he shared it with us and took us along. Whether or not one sees it as “stupid” is subjective. I really feel that if you couldn’t say something nice perhaps you needn’t say anything at all. ORIGINAL COMMENT: The only thing that bothered me was how many times Alex described his trip as "stupid". It wasn't stupid; it was an adventure. An adventure only other avgeeks could truly understand. I have so much admiration and respect for Alex; he took the challenge and made it happen. Bravo, dude.
Maybe at 6'8 with long legs it is different than my 5'10 experience? I always shell out for 1a or 2d bulkhead. Last row is quietest.
I think impractical is the correct term. Dumb entails that there is no fun to be had.
I could see the reason for a visitor to Canada to do something like this but for ....
Lack of common sense or good judgement? Definitely. Willingly choosing to be a sardine in a tin can with two blenders spinning next to your head for hours on end certainly isn’t smart in my estimation.
An adventure that if I had money and time I’ll do too!!
Definitely one of the coolest aviation vids ever, especially for a Canadian
Agreed
Now this is how you do Canadian content. Travelling across the country onboard the most prominent workhouse aircraft and using the opportunity to make jokes about the places you visit. Narrowly avoiding death with those Canada geese and “things to do in Regina: leave” had me rolling. Great Vid Alex!
("Experience Regina" intensifies)
Beware the cobra chicken
My father was the Lead Avionics Specialist who developed this aircraft at De Havilland amongst several other airplanes in his career. He was awarded a place in Canadian Aviation History at the Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
Lol ur last name is dingle?
@@MK-jq8ow Yes
@@iandingle3640 that’s hilarious.. did kids make fun of your last name in school.. I would’ve lmao
damn, that's very cool! i wonder if he ever flew on a dash-8 like on a regular flight? must've felt weird knowing he helped design the thing haha
Very cool. I’m planning on taking my nephew there before Christmas so I’ll look out for the name
That's crazy. I've done this too, across Canada only on Dash 8s, but a) not all in one go and b) I actually had to fly those Dash 8s at one point or another. :) The best part of being a Dash 8 pilot is that I got to see Canada from coast to coast... I'll forever cherish those moments, even though often, during my time doing that I was not happy to be on that plane. I wanted to fly a jet... Little did I know that the Dash 8 is an amazing airplane and I got to see some unique places: Nanaimo, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Kelowna, Castlegar, Kamploops, Cranbrook, Yellowknife, Calgary, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sault St. Marie, Toronto, Windsor, Sarnia, Kingston, Ottawa, Mont Tremblant, Montreal, Quebec, Mont Joli, Bae Comeau, Gaspe Bay, Sept Ille, Wabush, Fredericton, St John, Charlottown, Halifax, Gander, Deer Lake, St. John's... and many more... Nice video Alex.
I’m on the dash as well and it’s amazing the views and fun in this workhorse !
This Really shows how Important the dash 8 is to Canadian aviation. Amazing video
@Your Left Ear Will Thank Me
You work at a mine bro? No way you’re this salty unless you have to fly every 2 weeks
Flexing the fact you not only toured inside an Air Canada DC-9-30 before it was scrapped but also own an actual PIECE of it...what an absolute legend. Doing all this just for the entertainment of the aviation community is a small price to pay, for salvation. Well done, sir! The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is quite nice. The people who built it thought Saskatchewan would eventually be the most important and populated province, so they built a grand building to reflect their dream...it didn’t work out that way. The Saskatchewan Legislative Building was built between 1908 and 1912 in the Beaux Arts style to a design by Edward and William Sutherland Maxwell of Montreal. The Maxwells also supervised construction of the building by the Montreal company P. Lyall & Sons, who later built the Centre Block in Ottawa after the 1866 Parliament Building was destroyed by fire in 1916.
Regina was previously called Wascana from a Cree word that means "Buffalo Bones" but was renamed to Regina or Latin for Queen in 1882 in honor of Queen Victoria. This decision was made by Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise, who was the wife of John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll, the Governor General of Canada at the time. Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, the same year Alberta became a province, both carved out from the Northwest Territories. The Dash 8 really is a workhorse. It may not be the most comfortable plane, but they’re fun! So many lives have been affected by that plane in the best way possible, and for that you got to love it.
I see you everywhere lol
As an aviation enthusiast I think it is really cool to fly across Canada on a Canadian designed and built aircraft!
Well done!
Too bad he missed Quebec and the northern territories.
As "technologically obsolete" these aircraft are, they are still a pleasure to fly on. To me, they take you back to a simpler, more raw era of aviation. The D8 is a little workhorse which many fail to appreciate.
Thank you for carrying this task out and sharing all the small and big details through this amazing journey of yours. We have an amazing country and are blessed. You've gained a new subscriber. Keep up the fantastic work.
How is the Q400 tech obsolete?
@@BennyGeserit Please see that I put that word in quotations. I mean a simple comparison to jet other aircraft used to fly regional routes that are more "modern" with jet engines, fly by wire systems etc.
@@karans9228 sometimes ruggedness is better than nice screens :)
@@Plupx how?!
@@cartinggamez747 let's say you need to land on a gravel runway up north, hard to do with a brand new modern jet. Dash 8? no biggie.
What a great Canadian aviation adventure. It was fun, and a privilege, to come along for the ride(s). I've lost count of the Dash 8 flights I've taken so far; to and from the 3 Canadian cities I've lived in Toronto, Halifax and now Kelowna. It's sounds trite to say the Dash 8 is iconic, but it's kind of hard to deny that it most definitely is. Great vid, Alex! Rgds from YLW.
The closest thing I've ever done to this was on an Air Canada DC-9-32 starting from Vancouver to Saskatoon, then onto Winnipeg, then Toronto, finally to Montréal all on the same aircraft on the same day in the late Seventies. The aircraft was adorned with the original delivery livery. Alex, you would've love it!
"The stupidest thing I've ever done." Thanks for suffering for our entertainment Alex!
Yes thank you!
The "what to do in Regina" clip made this Saskatchewanian proud, nothing sums up this place more than that
As someone who is new to Canada and fond of aviation, this was an absolute treat to watch and the hunger to see the country keeps growing! Thank you for doing and making this!
The first row on WestJet is considered the emergency exit row. You used to be able to select that row at check-in for no additional fee.
Today I live in Victoria and travel to Vancouver at least once a month. I often end up opting for the ferry + bus combo which works surprisingly well, but prefer the flight overall, especially when I get that great low-altitude view of the gulf islands like you mentioned. I grew up flying around Atlantic Canada on Dash-8's. Fond memories of Quebec City to Labrador City on a Dash-8 as well. Great video Alex!
@Lou Icious the Werewolf one hour and a half
Harbour air or Helijet are amazing options for the Vic-van commute
I also have fond memories of flying into Labrador City from Montreal. That was back in 1967 and the airline was Quebecair. The aircraft was the F27 which as I recall had 36 seats and was quite pleasant to travel in.
@@TheGuerreroEFGif it’s not broken down without warning 😂
I love this airplane!
It's the Greyhound bus of the skies. It's rugged, flies off pavement, sod, and ice.
The cabin is chaotic and loud...
You never have to guess the configuration of the wing or landing gear...
JUST LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS!
13:11 Ah yes, the infamous Northern Murder Chickens….
Love from your Southern Neighbor!
That's cool you started in Victoria. My uncle lives on Vancouver Island. I always love the 15 minute Dash-8 flight between Vancouver and Comox when I go to visit him.
Epic trip Alex. I’m just back from crossing Canada by train, Halifax to Vancouver, with the ferry (and my daughter’s car) to finish the trip off at Mile 0 in Victoria. It was a magnificent trip across a magnificent country but I now want to do it again in Dash 8s!
As a Canadian aviation geek who’s survived countless hours on the old beauty that is the dash 8 this video is amazing, thanks for doing this for us!
The audible 'oh' from a passenger due to the hard landing around 16:27 made me laugh so hard and replay.
Another awesome video Alex. Indeed YTZ-YHZ is long, but PD's former YOW-MLB was the world's longest Dash 8 flight at approx. 3 1/2 hours flying time. In a few weeks time you'll be able to do the Dash transcon without having to go through the "Centre of the Universe" as PD launch YQT-YOW twice daily in March.
I loved every second of this video! As a Canadian, I say thank you!!! I also loled at "Pearson is, well... Pearson" 👏
The vibration on the YTZ-YHZ leg: vibration with propellers is always max when you are right in the plane of rotation of the props, and it looks like that's exactly where you were. Big # 1 reason why I always go as far back as possible in any prop flight. My fave was a Czech ATR-72 flight where you boarded through the rear door, and that's where the first class seats were -- and only 20% more $$$ than economy, I didn't need persuading!
Glad you got to see the DC-9. I live in Thunder Bay,and drive past the airport everyday. It's strange not seeing it.
I've been working on the Dash-8 Q400 as a flight attendant for over 2 years and believe me, I've heard so much trash talk about these aircrafts. Yes they arent the fanciest or biggest planes, but they serve a huge purpose and people dont realize that they would be stuck if these planes weren't around. People have a hard time understanding that there are different size planes and not every plane is a jet. Sometimes people just need to be thankful that they have options available to them. I personally enjoy working on the Q, its a very unique experience!!
My sister is a FA here in Queensland Australia and has exclusively worked the Dash-8 Q400 for many years.
I am an amateur transport photographer and love these little workhorses. Indeed many regional, remote and rural airport runways can only cope with the Dashies, Fokker F70 and 100 types. Especially where I am here in Cloncurry, NW Queensland.
I'd actually rather sit on a Dash-8 than a B737 for my regional travel as there is a tich more legroom.
Getting the right seat is integral, my favourites being 6A or 19A up the back I the Qantas variant.
Trust me, it's us in maintenance that hate it the most. Especially the ANVS system. You fix one actuator, run the test, and an actuator that was completely fine is now failing.
@@lucasfragoso7634 I've got so used to the ANVS being inop that it's just normal now. For me, it's the constant failing APU!!
@reddevil6996 oh yea APUs are dieing a lot rn lol. Probably because of age tbh. Tho haven't had a Q400 APU in a while at my base. Mostly ERJ 175s.
i really did make alex do this didn't i
You are a terrible influence
Proper thing the Dash 8 Mighty Q is a legend. Looking forward to seeing further production in Calgary.
I'm currently laughing right now
@@AlexPraglowskiAviation so are you
@@BSiskaAviationThat was harsh
“Plane spotting at Regina” huh I wonder how that would go…
“Hey look! A dash-8!”
“Hey look!!! A dash-8”
“Lads you won’t believe this, there’s a dash-8”
Oh wow you outdid yourself with this one… loved it! More like this please, maybe with Westjet next!
Considering you can fly from Victoria directly to Calgary, and then Calgary to St. John's, I dunno if that would have the same appeal 😆
Ha, I was the ramp lead on your arrival to CYQT. Just found this video in my recommended, can see myself at 16:34 cheers!
You should’ve flown back on Dash-8s stopping at airports like Saskatoon and Brandon that you couldn’t stop at on your eastbound flight 😂
Perhaps that’s next week’s video.
As someone who has grown up on Vancouver Island, almost all of my travels have started with a Dash 8 flight to Vancouver. So cool to see you feature this aircraft as it, for me - and I'm sure many others, has been a prominent part of my Canadian aviation experience. Truly an amazing and very Canadian video!
Im from Sault Ste. Marie. Our airport only gets puddle jumpers, Awesome job with the documenting of your trip!!
You are a true life hero. Dash-8 is punishingly LOUD as well as slow. oh my gawd.
I wish I found this channel sooner OML. I'm a plane spotting enthusiast from Manitoba. It started after my first and only trip I've ever taken. I was 14, and I went with my grandma and cousin from Winnipeg to Victoria. Even though the entire time I was plagued by severe travel anxiety and likely a bit of altitude sickness, I'll never forget each leg of the trip. We left Winnipeg and flew to Edmonton on a WestJet 737. Getting to Edmonton, I never got to see the tower because this was August of 2017, and I think most of us remember how bad the smoke was on the prairies thanks to the wildfires in BC. Next we did Edmonton straight to Victoria on a dash 8, and I felt a lot better on that flight. Flying over the mountains was an experience I enjoyed deeply and I remember when the land gave way to the ocean as we approached the Island. It was magical to me, and still is. Coming home, we had a 20 minute flight via dash 8 from Victoria to Vancouver. Then we had a 2 hour layover and relaxed until our 737 took us straight back to Winnipeg.
The first thing I did at the airport? I went to Tim's and got a farmers wrap. The first thing I'd eaten in 2 days. This was because my anxiety makes me feel nauseous, and I can't bring myself to eat. I barely ate anything the entire 9 days we were in Victoria, and can count the amount of meals I had on one hand. But even amongst these crappy feelings, I felt a sense e of wonder to the whole flight experience, even if I felt a bit gross in the air.
Geez I rambled. The point of this whole comment is to say I'm glad I found someone making this sort of content. It lets me look onto a plane in a way where I won't end up in a panic attack. I have since wanted to travel a lot more, but lack of funds and anxiety isn't letting me. Hopefully, I'll eventually get to the point where I can do trips, especially since I've always wanted to see the east coast myself. But you've earned yourself a new subscriber for sure.
Having flown on turboprops from Iqaluit and Clyde River down south far more times than humans are meant to, I can appreciate what you've managed. Long flights on 'em is just awful, and I can't imagine that many Dashes in a row.
As someone who grew up in the rural NW of the US, the Dash 8 has a special place in my heart since that's the only plane our regional airlines used. Q400 til I die
Never been on a Dash 8. Now I want to…. continue that streak!
Man, you're a sucker for punishment lol. That was quite the brazen adventure though and kudos to you for undertaking such a challenge. Only one missed connection during the entire adventure, considering the state of our airlines last summer, was nothing short of a miracle. I know there was careful planning on your part but the best laid plans of mice and men as they say. Thanks for taking us along with you, it sure was fun to see all those airport terminals. Well done!
As an alumni of confederation college aviation program, it is sad to see dc9 getting demolished. I remember walking in when all instruments were still attached. Thanks for the video and hope you can try CRJ cross country next?
The comedic relief in here is my favorite part! Great job Alex!!! love it. One of my all time favorite videos!
It is not the stupidest thing you ever did. It is the MOST AMAZING thing you ever did. This is by far the best video you ever did my friend. A true piece of art. I would love to have this kind of adventure.
I took Porter to NYC and absolutely loved the airline and the convenience of the smaller Billy Bishop Airport. Porter is a respectful service unlike the short-haul cattle-class of Westjet and Air Canada.
Now you got to fly across the USA on all CRJ-200s!!!
What a cool Adventure. I have been to all these airports (except St John's) but not in a cross Canada trip. I'm so glad I watched this.
WOW, this is so well done. The amount of planning, backtracking, and ticketing to fly an all dash-8 journey across the country on three different airlines must have been a very tough job, but I'm sure you found it very rewarding! This was super entertaining. Porter at YTZ is pretty much _always_ delayed, but I'm glad you were able to get another AC dash-8 that got you there! Love all the little details too; definitely did think one of those was a cessna :p
Oh, no need to say anything about putting a "positive spin" about flying across this great nation, if not the 2nd greatest then it IS the greatest!
For anyone that ever flew a Dash plane ( such as I in 2018, from Vancouver to Winnipeg), hats off to us all! 😂
Thank you for this great, and also at times humorous, adventure that you solely said "I Did It!"🥰🥰
I'm not an aviation nerd, but I can pretty confidently say that the best way to experience flying across Canada on only Dash 8s is a
I go to the school in YQT Thunder Bay. One of the first time I’ve seen Tbay mentioned in a video. Thanks for that
Love it Alex! Thank you for sharing. Inspiring me to take a similar trip in my PA28-140 Cherokee.
US Scareways used to fly a lot of Dash 8's out of Baltimore. The one thing I always appreciated, was that the DSH-8 was, and is an EXCEPTIONALLY safe aircraft. Even with a dual engine failure, the thing has like a glide ratio that's insane for a commercial airplane. Never once did I feel unsafe on one, save for the flight through a snowstorm, where the de-icing boots released the built up icy snow on the leading edge of the wings and threw it against the fuselage. However once I knew that was how actually was supposed to work, I never had issues with winter flying on that aircraft. Kudos to the designers and the Canadians for building an excellent aircraft.
As someone who just drove from Kelowna to Hamilton, Canada is one big cookie. You are very brave for attempting this
Definitely my favourite video of yours yet! And thanks for including YYT, we're often forgot out here 🙂
"Narrowly avoided death" as you show the great Canadian attack geese. I lost it laughing hahaha. Still watching, just had to pause and comment on that. Great video so far, I would love to do such an adventure.
Having flown Timmins to Toronto quite a few times, Porter is a nice airline. Plus, landing on the island is always breathtaking.
As a fan of your videos from the Uk, who has visited many parts of Canada including, Calgary, Banff, Montreal etc. thank you for making this epic video! Brightens up my Monday morning start before work! Love your different take on aviation, by far the best Canadian aviation vlogger. Keep up the great content!!🎉
Thanks for supporting canadian aviation. It's much needed.
EPIC! A virtual standing ovation from all your fans, Alex.
As a person only kind of interested in modern aviation, this was way more interesting than I expected it to be. Also the islands at 24:14 are stunning (Merasheen Island and Long Island for anyone wondering), and visiting them is a new point on my bucket list. Thank you!
Hello Alex, I would like to say a few words. First and foremost. This was the most amazing of "stupid" things I have seen you do on youtube and quiet definitely my favourite video of yours that I have seen! I love the idea of traveling west to east trough all of Canada with only Q400's!
Also, I do apologize for the weak performance of Porter. I work the ramp for Porter and back in July we were EXTREMELY understaffed. We (the company) had just started to hire more people like crazy and we all struggled to keep up. We did manage to bring our on time performance up a lot since. Staffing is also no longer as much of an issue as early summer.
Lastly, it is too bad Porter no longer flies to Melbourne, FL as that would also be a great video to see! I would also love to make that flight with Porter if they still flew that rout.
Anyways, if you do end up reading my comment, thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I hope you have a pleasant day and happy flying!
hey swisscake see you at work tmr
Wish you guys did LGA.
@@afcgeo882 man I wish we did as well I love La Guardia
That sounds like an amazing adventure! Flying across Canada on Dash 8s must have offered some incredible views, especially considering the diverse landscapes Canada is known for. From the bustling cities to the serene wilderness, there's so much to see. It's also a unique way to travel, hopping on smaller aircrafts like the Dash 8, which often allows for a more intimate and scenic flying experience. Hope you had a memorable journey! 🛩🇨🇦✨
Everyone thinks I’m crazy for wanting to ride the train across Canada. Now I’ll just show them this video! Flew a Dash up to Smithers, BC a couple times, and an hour in that seat was plenty for me.
Fabulous and greetings from Ireland. Last in Toronto I visited the Skydome when Blue Jay's played Detroit Tigers and George Bell was one the big stars of the Blue Jay's.
Awesome trip report. Porter has flown test flights between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg, but so far no plans to open another Dash 8 service between the two cities besides Encore.
Vancouver to Kamloops and back a few times is my experience with Dash 8s so it's great to see this footage!
I know it was a pain, but this was quite a journey. I am originally from YYT and have been to every airport on this journey, except Thunder Bay. I have flown on Dash-8's to all these airports - just not in 5 days straight. Thanks for sharing.
A pain in the leg for sure! Particularly in Alex's case. 😄
Lots of nice rides in Dash8s.. Even some of the old 200s that Alaska Airlines used to have. I enjoyed them all!
“Inevitable that i’d be forced to stop in the centre of the universe” hahaha
What an awesome video! I have a new appreciation for Dash 8s
Love that you stopped in my hometown of thunder bay! The dash 8s are even starting to disappear here too.
the fact he is over 6'8 is crazy
Out of all of the planes I've ridden on, the dash 8s are my favorite. The nice quiet hum of the props make it really easy to fall asleep.
Thank you for sacrificing your legs, and cash, to make this video for us, by far, you are the best Canadian aviation channel, and we are all so grateful to always see legendary content made by a one-of-a-kind RUclipsr!! Keep up the awesome work!! We love you!!
I am living vicariously through your knee caps! Great job!
I can't believe I just watched a 30 minute video of Alex flying across Canada...
Nice! Got fond memories as a kid flying Horizon between Boise and Portland and Bosie and Spokane on Dash 8s
Holy sh.. I think you just redefined what it means to be a true aviation enthusiast. Hope you had a comfier ride back to YYC 😂
Thank you!! Short answer, no 🤣
@@AlexPraglowskiAviationtoo bad to hear that Alex. How many connections did you have on the way back to YYC?
20:22 I realized earlier you said that you wondered if anyone was reading those and if you’re wondering yes I did and “not a Cessna 172” is just perfect
Huge respect for the dude actually getting onto a plane and actually doing it instead of doing it in mircrosoft flight sim
I flew out of Billy Bishop a few years ago. They really put you back in your seat. I really enjoyed Porter. Great video!
Who else lives in Canada and waited for him to land in your province
Glad you enjoyed YQR (minus the windows) and the park! Interesting voyage! Hope I get a chance to bump into you in my travels!
Insane, amazing video, really love this kind of projects. Congratulations!!!
Having a piece of a DC-9 sounds cool as hell
Wild that someone would do this willingly. I commend your stamina. I can almost see my house in Bridgeland at 8:22, if there was a couple seconds more it would have been super clear. Super cool!
I’m so glad you went to Newfoundland and appreciated cape spear. I live in edmonton but majority of my family lives in Newfoundland, so good to see it again
I remember flying on a Dash 8-100 in search 10c. At first I was disappointed by no window seat when I saw the assigned seat, but didn't realize it was a seat at the back of the plane at the end of the aisle. The definition of leg room.
I prefer flying on Dash 8's over the CRJ. I've never had a problem with shoulder room on a plane before a CRJ.
Flown on a dash 8 on Alaska airlines, the service was great, but the seats were uncomfortable and low to the floor, but it’s such a small plane so that explains it.
Billy bishop is my favourite airport in Canada, my favourite in the states is San Diego. It’s right downtown, has great stores at the gates, and ties into public transit beautifully
Years ago i was visiting my family in London, Ont. Flew from Toronto - London.
Really was fun ! Greetings from The Netherlands 🌷❤️🇳🇱
I like how medicine hat just gets skipped lol
Thank you so much for this amazing journey. I was hugely entertained and enjoyed your commentary. I'm looking forward to your next trip!
You want a shorter Dash 8 hop? CYST-CYIV operated by Perimeter Aviation, who operate most of these flights. It's literally an island hop within about 8 miles of each other on Island Lake which has 3 different communities on different corners of the lake.
Most would elect to take a boat/snowmobile/helicopter for this, but I've seen it happen where a local gets off in one or the other stations.
Just found your channel and loving your adventures! This one brought back a great memory from 30 years ago when I decided to fly across the U.S. on nothing but commuters. 1 flight on a BAe-146 and 8 on Beech 1900s. Started at KSNA and ended at KJAX.
Great views! And at @8:13 I love seeing that approach into Calgary! I miss it
What a fun video! I am not a plane person so RUclips showing me this was a bit random. Glad it did! I have only been on a dash 8 once over 20 years ago when connecting from Victoria to Vancouver on our way back to Toronto (the flight there had been direct). It was Aur Canada Jazz, I believe. I don't really fly anymore other than to see family. Not sure how many dash 8s do the Winnipeg to Toronto route. I don't know much about planes but I do have opinions on what airports we land in. Right now Pearson is the only real option but last year we flew into Kitchener which was nice. Hamilton is still my favourite. We are flying Porter next month and I was disappointed to learn we are going to Pearson and not Billy Bishop. I grew up in Ontario and had always wanted to try that airport.
That’s gotta hurt. Also “not a Cessna 172” was funny. I do Watch your subtitles my friend 😂😂😂
Also the joke about “leave” made me snort my water.