Why turboprop engines?
All modern airliners use gas turbine engines, either jet engines or turboprops. This is because turbines tend to be much more reliable and less prone to failure than reciprocating engines, also known as piston engines. Jet engines use the jet exhaust for thrust to push the airplane forward. Turboprop engines use the jet thrust to spin a propeller. The advantages of turboprop engines are: 1. The propeller pushes more air than an equivalent-sized jet engine, so the engine is very fuel efficient. This is particularly effective in the denser air at lower altitudes, and 2. The propellers allow the airplane to accelerate very quickly and stop very efficiently, which allows the airplane to use shorter runways. The disadvantages of having propellers are: 1. They limit the airplane’s top speed, and 2. They create more noise and vibration than a jet. Performance The 1900D cruises at about 260 knots true airspeed (300 mph or 480 km/h). Ordinary trip lengths range from 100 to 600 miles (20 minutes
