Gemini Jets 1:400 Bombardier Q400: Alaska Airlines - Washington Huskies (Reg #N435QX)

During the 1970's, de Havilland Canada was busy with the production of their 4-engine, 50-seat STOL Dash 7 - DHC-7 - transport. However, to meet the airlines' request for a similar yet more economical and faster aircraft, the Dash 8 - DHC-8 - was developed. The prototype Dash-8-100 first flew in 1983 and entered service in late 1984. The initially released Dash-8-100 was smaller than the Dash-7 and typically operated in a 37-seat configuration. In 1992, Bombardier Aerospace purchased de Havilland Canada and released an updated version of the popular Dash 8 as the Dash-8-200, which featured more powerful engines and increased cruising speed. A stretched version of the Dash-8-200, known as the Dash 8-300, eventually went into service with the original 50-seat capacity of the earlier Dash-7. Bombardier discontinued the Dash-8 100, 200 and 300 versions between 2005 and 2009, replacing it with the larger and more capable Dash-8-400, simply marketed as the Q400.