The de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada DHC-7, commonly known as the Dash 7, is a four-engine turboprop short-haul aircraft designed for short take-off and landing (STOL) operations. Seating 48 passengers, it was originally powered by four PT6A-50 engines.
Developed by de Havilland Canada at Downsview, Toronto, the DHC-7 was designed for operations in the challenging Canadian wilderness, capable of handling various weather conditions. It was intended as a regional airliner with greater capacity than the DHC-6 Twin Otter, designed to compete with twin-turboprop aircraft like the Convair 580 and Hawker Siddeley HS748. With noise restrictions becoming stricter in the 1970s, much attention was given to the use of oversized propellers geared to reduce rotation speeds without sacrificing thrust. This feature made the Dash 7 appealing due to its low noise levels, which allowed it to perform steep approaches and departures, reducing the noise footprint around airports.
The prototype (C-GNBX-X) first flew on 27th March 1975, with the first production aircraft taking flight in May 1977. The first delivery occurred in February 1978. Rocky Mountain Airways of Denver became the Dash 7's first operator, receiving the first aircraft on 3rd February 1978. The airline specialised in tourist flights to resort airports, often those with short runways and high elevations. A prominent route was from Denver Stapleton Airport to Avon Airport, Colorado. Avon, a Stolport controlled by Rocky Mountain Airways, provided easy access to the nearby Vail ski resort.
The main variant produced was the DHC-7 Series 100 regional airliner, with another variant, the DHC-7 Series 150, offering increased fuel capacity and higher take-off weight. The Series 100 had two sub-variants: the DHC-7-102 passenger version and the DHC-7-103 combi, which featured an enlarged cargo door. A total of 113 Dash 7s were built, and the aircraft saw service with the Canadian Forces (CC-132 VIP transport in West Germany), the United States Army (EO-5C/RC-7 supporting the Airborne Reconnaissance Low programme), and the Venezuelan Navy.
Despite its STOL capabilities, the Dash 7 had limited commercial success as a feeder airliner. In regions where STOL was not a critical requirement, airlines preferred more cost-effective traditional aircraft, while those needing acute STOL capability opted for the DHC-6 Twin Otter. In 1978, the introduction of the more conventional, twin-engine DHC-8 Dash 8, which remains in service today, further diminished demand for the Dash 7. Production of the DHC-7 ceased in 1988, and the type certificate was sold to Viking Air of British Columbia in 2005.