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Why No Dork328 Turbo-Props?

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CopilotDoug

CopilotDoug

Captain of Industry
Joined
Feb 16, 2006
Posts
2,644
Why didn't this airplane catch on here in the states? I don't know anything about it aside from being fast for a turbo-prop.
 
Good question.

I'm wondering how AWAC & PSA feel about getting rid of all theirs after 9/11, given what fuel costs these days. All the AWAC guys I've flown with that were on the Dornier do nothing but sing its praises, and all prefer it to the CRJ.
 
I believe that Fairchild Dornier went Bankrupt, or what they call in Europe 'insolvency' under German Law.
So I believe getting parts to fly that many airplanes was almost impossible!

I am sure there's other people that can answer it more correctly! I know that the Jet version was a big flop!

328 Prop was a very nice looking Plane!
 
Unfortunate timing on an excellent aircraft. SNS from regional management. The 328 and Dash 8 are probably the best "RJ's" out there, but all of the regional's management were in a race to be all jet ( much at the prodding of their major partners).
 
Hey Chest,

Is that Mick Mars from Motley Crue in your avatar???
 
I know there are a few still floating around as corporate shuttles. One I know of is owned by Corning Glass in NY. You can catch it running in and out of Newark during the week. Nice looking aircraft.
 
If the 328 prop was anything like its sibling, the 328Jet, it was a good airplane with a slew of maintenance issues....not just a handful of recurring problems but like 20-25 things that broke on an all too regular basis.

I believe Horizon had a big fleet of 328props - I also recall hearing that their 328 props did not have APUs and had a bunch of mx issues.
 
The 328 prop didn't catch on because it was a jet prop(270k) flying in lines of proppy props (200-220k) during departures, cruise, and especially arrivals. (Assigned 200k from 150 miles out) I remember CLT used to assign us 150 kts in the climb, normal was 200(company) 220(line pilots). The plane was awesome and the MX was minmal after the first 2-3 years. In the US it could not be turned loose to do what is was designed for (300nm missions). US Air scheduled it for little 15 minute flights. About the same time all the other regionals changed over to RJs for their similar routes. That was the wrong time for this plane, thus the 328jet. The 328jet wasn't really at jet performance level though. Max V still at 270kt.
 
Take a look at Vision in North Las Vegas. They run 'em in the Canyon and I believe they have essential air. Also, they have a couple of the jets parked on the ramp.
 
Flyin2low said:
The 328 prop didn't catch on because it was a jet prop(270k) flying in lines of proppy props (200-220k) during departures, cruise, and especially arrivals. (Assigned 200k from 150 miles out) I remember CLT used to assign us 150 kts in the climb, normal was 200(company) 220(line pilots). The plane was awesome and the MX was minmal after the first 2-3 years. In the US it could not be turned loose to do what is was designed for (300nm missions). US Air scheduled it for little 15 minute flights. About the same time all the other regionals changed over to RJs for their similar routes. That was the wrong time for this plane, thus the 328jet. The 328jet wasn't really at jet performance level though. Max V still at 270kt.
Click to expand...


True! You can only go so fast with a straight wing design! The 328Jet when flying over 30k was about 100 knots slower then everyone else! Drove the controllers crazy!

You are right the 328 Prop was designed for longer segment flights! You saw a big decrease in mx issues when it was used like it was suppose to be.

With fuel cost going back up, you might see an increase in TurboProp airplanes.... Hard to beat some of the Q400's abilities! 360kts, 72 pax and burns 30% less fuel then Regional Jets.

Dork was a sweet plane. I still remember the first time I jumpseated on a PSA Dork, and was blown away by the glass cockpit! I kinda miss seeing that thing sitting in CLT.
 
WSurf said:
I believe that Fairchild Dornier went Bankrupt, or what they call in Europe 'insolvency' under German Law.
So I believe getting parts to fly that many airplanes was almost impossible!

I am sure there's other people that can answer it more correctly! I know that the Jet version was a big flop!

328 Prop was a very nice looking Plane!
Click to expand...

Parts were a costly problem even before the insolvency, and after it was worse. 85% of the parts were specific to the Dornier and with less than 150 turbo props built instead of the 400 projected by Dornier the production lines for the specific parts, Props, 1VE pannel, and non honneywell items were costly and difficult to have serviced. As for day to day operations very little MX, but when you would have a PACK go down, if they had one on hand two hours and you were back in the air, if MX had to get one fixed.............. Had to re mel an mel once or twice.

As Flyin2low said it was a hot rod that was forced to stay in the slow lane. It always seemed that the PIT and DCA controllers would let it do it's thing.

:beer:
 
WSurf said:
True! You can only go so fast with a straight wing design! The 328Jet when flying over 30k was about 100 knots slower then everyone else! Drove the controllers crazy!

You are right the 328 Prop was designed for longer segment flights! You saw a big decrease in mx issues when it was used like it was suppose to be.

With fuel cost going back up, you might see an increase in TurboProp airplanes.... Hard to beat some of the Q400's abilities! 360kts, 72 pax and burns 30% less fuel then Regional Jets.

Dork was a sweet plane. I still remember the first time I jumpseated on a PSA Dork, and was blown away by the glass cockpit! I kinda miss seeing that thing sitting in CLT.
Click to expand...

The 300kt/.66 speed limit didn't as much to do with the straight wing as it did with the tail section. It's all comoposite back there. Fairchild did some of our initial training for us. According to them, the wing can go into the mid .7's before any sign of buffet. But if you turned the aircraft at those speeds, it would rip the whole tail section off.

Besides, that plane's slow cruise speed didn't mean jack when operating in the busy North East. When the controller tell you to pull it back to slowest possible for flow into LGA, BOS, PHL, ect, it doesn't matter if you can go .78/.80/.85.
 
Last edited:
Loved flying that thing for PSA. Don't remember too many maintenance issues. Sure hated seeing one of those AWAC tail numbers though because of no APU.

Bad timing for a great plane. If I remember my numbers right, Dornier needed to sell around 150 of them to break even on the R & D costs and ended up selling around 95 to 100. Stupid RJ came and ruined the 328 among other things.
 
Flyin2low said:
The 328 prop didn't catch on because it was a jet prop(270k) flying in lines of proppy props (200-220k) during departures, cruise, and especially arrivals.
Click to expand...

Proppy props! I love it!

I wonder if anybody will every try to make a "jet" prop again...
 
Skyway 328

I hear Skyway (the airline) is buying 328 jets. They called me for an interview. The source had a reliable source. :) She said a year or two to get off the 1900 and upgrade to the jet.
 
WSurf said:
Stupid RJ has cause more headaches in this industry then anything else! That small airplane is responsible for many of the industry's problems!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think we need to see more jet-props out there. I remember ORD back in the 80s when you'd see some big turbo-props like CV580s, ATPs, F27s; planes with nothing with less than 40-50 seats.

I got a fever and the only cure is more turbo-props!
 
rcbullock said:
I hear Skyway (the airline) is buying 328 jets. They called me for an interview. The source had a reliable source. :) She said a year or two to get off the 1900 and upgrade to the jet.
Click to expand...
.

I went to work there for a short time. They were guaranteeing me the left seat of the 328 within 6-12 months since they were going to acquire jets for Delta flying that ACA was losing. Never happened. Just a word of advice, don't believe the Skyway hype. It's a company that hasn't grown in years. In fact, they are currently retiring 1900's with no growth but MAYBE adding a couple of 328's. Good guys to fly with but plan on being in the right seat indefinitely for very low regional FO pay.
 
Had to chime in just because "Dork" is in my username. Spent four years on the Dork and loved it! It's better than the CRJ in so many ways, though the CRJ pays better. Some have mentioned that the Dork was placed on short routes all the time. Let's not forget PHL-TYS, PHL-CAE, PIT-BHM, PIT-CHS, PIT-STL, among others that I can't think of right now. There were quite a few 2+00 flights on the Dork. Now that we're all on the Barbie Jet we don't see any more long flights than we did on the Dork. Mostly we just do the Carolina Shuffle.
 
Oh, let's not forget flight "forty - two seventy" from PIT to CAK. 4000', 270 knots! (Disclaimer -- I do not advocate blatant violation of FARs)
 
Dork

That thing was an overengineered piece of crap. You could put a Primus 2000 in a Cessna 172, that doesn't make it a "nice airplane".

  • Props needed to be out of feather to flush the john. Had to pour coffee down the drain to "flush" on the ground.
  • Nosewheel steering was wiggy if you pulled the condition levers back to early (remember CAE?)
  • Instrument panel was held on by velcro...fell off in your lap in rough-air
  • Reverser triggers were tough to grab into. Had to have hulk-hogan's pinky fingers to get that darned thing to engage.
  • Sensitive brakes. Heated up barely touching them.
  • "APU GEN OVHT"
  • Sven
  • Silverstein
  • Overchuk
  • Dean K.
  • Witherspoon
  • That guy who wore the driving gloves in the cockpit
Need I go on?
 
Other than the air whistling through the seal in the aft door, it was very quiet in the back rows when deadheading!
 
BenderGonzales said:
That thing was an overengineered piece of crap. You could put a Primus 2000 in a Cessna 172, that doesn't make it a "nice airplane".
  • Props needed to be out of feather to flush the john. Had to pour coffee down the drain to "flush" on the ground.
  • Nosewheel steering was wiggy if you pulled the condition levers back to early (remember CAE?)
  • Instrument panel was held on by velcro...fell off in your lap in rough-air
  • Reverser triggers were tough to grab into. Had to have hulk-hogan's pinky fingers to get that darned thing to engage.
  • Sensitive brakes. Heated up barely touching them.
  • "APU GEN OVHT"
  • Sven
  • Silverstein
  • Overchuk
  • Dean K.
  • Witherspoon
  • That guy who wore the driving gloves in the cockpit
Need I go on?
Click to expand...

1. So then you didn't have to worry about anyone taking a Deuce on the ground...
2. sure kept you on your toes!!!
3. More Velcro=More places to hide Porn.
4. Brakes Schmakes
5. At least it had one half the time....
6. See #1 ("Captain Poopy).
7. Now a GeauJet whore. What a fuggin tool. i hope he chokes on his type ratings.

didn't fly with the other guys, but heard some good stories.

Still THE best airplane I've ever flow, although it's kinda like the first piece of ass you get, no matter how ugly it was, it's still the best we've had at that time.

Former Doorknob,
Mookie
 

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