de Havilland Canada Dash 7

Designed and built by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, the DHC-7, a quiet short-takeoff-and-landing airliner, incorporates the results of a worldwide study of short-haul transport requirements. The design for the DASH 7 got under way in 1972, and the first preproduction aircraft made its first flight at Downsview, Ontario, on 27 March 1975. Capable of carrying 50 passengers, the four-engined DASH 7 can also be adapted to carry mixed freight/passenger or all-cargo loads. The aircraft is notable for its fuel efficiency, clean operation, and innovative, quiet engine/propellor combination, which greatly limits external noise during takeoff and landing. Its excellent STOL performance has made the aircraft attractive to operators flying from small airfields in remote and rugged terrain. It is equally suitable for commuter airlines serving large metropolitan areas. Robert Bradford painted the illustration, and graphic designer Jacques Charette developed the format and typography for the stamp. The stamp depict the first preproduction de Havilland Canada DASH 7 in world-demonstrator finish.