The Aircraft of MDT: Bombardier Dash 8

Welcome to the second installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

A US Airways Dash 8-100 takes off

With over 540 monthly flights, the Bombardier Dash 8 is the most commonly sighted aircraft at Harrisburg International Airport. The DHC-8 is a twin turboprop regional airliner that was originally produced by de Havilland Canada, a company that has since been acquired by Bombardier Aerospace which continues to manufacture the line. The first Dash 8s entered service in 1984. The original Dash 8s, the series 100 and series 200 (which used the same airframe as the 100s, but with more powerful engines) seated 37-39 passengers. In 1989 the series 300 was introduced. The new variant was capable of carrying 50-56 passengers. The 400 series is an even longer variant introduced in 2000 and seating between 70 and 78 passengers. Beginning in 1996, all new Dash 8s added a Q, for quiet, to their series number (Q200, etc.) because of new noise reduction systems. Except for the Q400 series, all variants of the Dash 8 have ended their production run. There is talk, however, of a new variant to be introduced in 2-3 years, the Q400X, a further stretch that will seat up to 90 passengers.

A Continental Dash 8 arrives at the gate

Dash 8 traffic at MDT is made up entirely of the 100 (Q)200 and (Q)300 series. Continental Connection flies series 200 Dash 8s from Harrisburg to Cleveland and to Newark. US Airways Express flies series 100 & 300 craft to Philadelphia and series 100 planes to Boston and New York. The two airlines together can fly more than 20,000 passengers to or from Harrisburg International Airport on Dash 8s each month.

9 "Must See" Attractions in South Central PA

When inviting a friend or family member to any city for the first time, the top priority on the "to do" list is always siteseeing. Surely you will want to highlight the best places to visit in the area.  Thanks to recommendations from our Facebook fans, we have compiled a travel checklist for first time visitors to South Central Pennsylvania.  These recommendations are based upon their personal experiences and favorites!  We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Hershey
The Sweetest Place on Earth
http://www.hersheypa.com/
Hershey, PA, home of Milton Hershey’s first chocolate factory, is a place for the whole family to visit and enjoy. The most popular attraction is Hershey Park with over 65 rides, a water park and live shows. Next to the park is Hershey’s Chocolate World where you can ride Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour Ride, which shows passengers how Hershey’s chocolate is created. At the end of the ride each guest receives a free complimentary candy bar. Lastly, ZooAmerica, which is free when entering from Hershey Park, is a North American animal Wildlife Park that includes fun and educational activities everyday.

Gettysburg
Largest battle of the Civil War
http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/
Visit the Gettysburg museum and visitors center to learn about the battle via videos, cyclorama, and educational activities. Also, there are bus and car licensed battlefield tours available to view close to 1400 monuments that expand across the 6000 acre battlefield where you can learn the role this battle played in our nation’s history.

Knoebels
Amusement Park and Campground in Elysburg
http://www.knoebels.com/family-vacation.asp
Located in Elysburg, Knoebles is the perfect place to bring the whole family! Knoebels turns your amusement park experience into a family vacation by conveniently allowing park visitors to stay at the park campground where there are cabins and camper parking available. Experience the thrill of the roller coasters or the calming carousel during the day, and then relax by the campfire at night.

City Island
Harrisburg, PA
http://www.harrisburgevents.com/Common/City_Island.html
Known as the midriver heart of the cities’ waterfront, City Island is a place for family and friends! Whether you are spending it at the batting cages, playing mini golf, or staying in the beach house, there is plenty to do on the island. The Skyline Sports Complex is a multi-purpose field for semi-pro soccer and football. Also, you can catch a baseball game at City Island, home to the Commerce Bank Park where the Harrisburg Senators play. You can tour the island by carriage or their scaled-version of the Civil War-era steam train.

Capitol Building Tour
Harrisburg, PA
http://www.pacapitol.com/Main.html
This priceless architectural treasure, being the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, is an icon of democracy and freedom, and a symbol of history and power. The five-story building incorporates various Renaissance designs in some of its largest rooms, and reflects Greek, Roman, and Victorian influences. Throughout the building artists have blended the various styles with motifs featuring Pennsylvania’s achievements in labor, industry and history. In addition to visiting the welcome center, you can take a 30 minute guided tour of “the handsomest building” that President Theodore Roosevelt ever saw.

National Christmas Center
Lancaster, PA
http://www.nationalchristmascenter.com/
Experience the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child at the museum of the National Christmas Center in Lancaster, PA. There are fifteen main galleries that include exhibits of the first Christmas and Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Also view an exhibit of a global village’s folk art, customs, and unique gift-giving around the world. Open to the public May through the holiday season, you can discover different Christmas traditions from around the world in one convenient location!

Amish Country
Lancaster, PA
http://www.padutchcountry.com/activities/amish-activities.asp
Visit America’s oldest Amish settlement in Lancaster, PA where you can take a step into and enjoy the peaceful way of life. Take a tour of the Pennsylvania countryside by horse and buggy if you choose, shop for hand-made Amish arts and crafts, and enjoy the authentic Dutch cooking. You can even tour the Lancaster Quilt and Textile museum or the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum to understand the German heritage of the region.

National Watch & Clock Museum Lancaster, PA
http://www.nawcc.org/index.php/museumlibrary
With a collection of over 5,000 items, the National Watch and Clock Museum takes you on a chronological tour through the entire history of time keeping technology from nonmechanical devices to radio-controlled clocks today. The largest collection is the 19th Century American clocks and watches, but the whole museum includes international pieces with a wide variety of clocks, watches and tools. Other collections include early English tallcase clocks, timepieces from Japan and China, and devices from German, France, the Netherlands and Russia.

Getting Outdoors
Hiking and canoeing
http://www.outerquest.com/results.cfm/id/2940
http://www.pahikes.com/
If you are the outdoorsy type or simply want to experience the wonderful nature views of central Pennsylvania you can do this by hiking, canoeing, or kayaking. Outerquest.com offers canoeing and kayaking trips along the beautiful Susquehanna River. Each group will be lead by a trained tour guide and there is absolutely no experience necessary. And, PAHikes.com, features a list of all of the nature trails in Central Pennsylvania and reviews by hikers who are familiar with the trails. Visit these sites for more information in order to get outside and have some fun!

Come Visit!
No matter what your siteseeing interests are, South Central PA has the place for you. Whether you want the joys of an amusement park, the relaxation that comes with visiting Dutch Country or the knowledge of historic battlefields of the Civil War you will find it here! If you have a family member or friend visiting for the first time or if you are planning a family vacation, these attractions and sites are affordable and fun for all. There attractions are only a short list of all the exciting places to visit. Get started planning now, there are great experiences awaiting you in the region surrounding Harrisburg International Airport!

The Aircraft of MDT: Beechcraft 1900D

Welcome to the first installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we will take a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

Air Canada flight 7390 from Toronto (YYZ)
arrives on a Beechcraft 1900D

The Beechcraft 1900D is the smallest commercial aircraft that flies through Harrisburg International Airport. It was manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon between 1991 and 2002. The 1900D is the third iteration of the Beechcraft 1900 series, following the 1900 and the 1900C. The 1900 series are all 19 passenger turboprop airliners which were themselves an evolution of Beechcraft’s Model 200 Super King Air.

The 1900C was an early redesign of the 1900, distinguished primarily by the removal of a second airstair door. The 1900D was a more significant redesign. The most obvious feature of the 1900D when compared with the earlier 1900 models is the shape of the cabin. The 1900D is notable in its class for being one of only two 19 passenger airliners in service with a ceiling height that allows most passengers to walk through the craft without bending over. Changing the shape of the body necessitated other changes to the design, including more powerful engines and a larger tail.

Although more than 70 airlines currently operate Beechcraft 1900Ds, the only ones you’ll see at Harrisburg International Airport wear the livery of Air Georgian, operating flights for HIA’s airline partner Air Canada. As many as 900 passengers make their way between Toronto and Harrisburg on 1900Ds every month.

UH-72: Lakota Helicopters at CXY

UH-72 Lakota mid-flight

If you reside or work within proximity of Capital City Airport (CXY) in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, you are sure to have seen increased helicopter activity in the local airspace.  The helicopters you're seeing are the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's UH-72 Lakotas.  The Lakotas are designed to fly light general support operations for the Nation Guard.  So, why are they flying over New Cumberland, you ask?

The helicopters are in the area as CXY was chosen as the location for the helicopter pilots training facility.  CXY was chosen for its proximity to Fort Indiantown Gap, hangar space available for the UH-72s and current use of airspace.  CXY was also chosen because Fort Indiantown Gap coult not adequately support the Lakota training mission due to limited hangar and training space and an unallocated federal appropriation, so an alternate location (CXY) was needed.  The training mission (facility) at CXY will be in place for five years, after which the plan is to move the training mission to Fort Indiantown Gap in 2016.

The pilots receiving training on the Lakotas are Army National Guard units from 53 states and territories and active Army units primarily from the National Training Center, Joint Readiness Training Center, West Point, Belvoir, and CMTC (Germany) units.  The pilots are currently training on eight aircraft and there will eventually be eighteen aircraft in the training fleet.  Training is conducted between 7 a.m. to midnight, and during the summer months it will end at 1 a.m. as the days are longer and the pilots need to train in hours of limited visibility. 

If you have comments, questions or feedback on the UH-72 Lakota training mission at Capital City Airport, please call the Pennsylvania National Guard public affairs office at (717) 861-8468.