What is a turboprop propeller?
A turboprop aircraft is a type of aircraft powered by a propulsion system that combines a gas turbine engine with a propeller. An aircraft engine is the beating heart of the plane, it’s where energy is transformed into thrust or traction force. In turboprops, this energy is used to rotate a propeller. The turboprop engine the engine is designed to take large amount of energy and deliver it in the form of torque to the propeller. This energy is measured in shaft horsepower. The two main types of turboprops are direct drive and free turbine.They burn fuel and air, and they turn an attached propeller. Turboprop engines are more complex and expensive than piston engines. They offer higher efficiency and performance, especially at higher altitudes and speeds. This makes them ideal for larger aircraft and regional airliners.In fact, turboprop engines are also more efficient than turbofan engines, but aircraft speeds using turboprop engines are typically lower than those of turbofan engines.When it comes to safety, jets and turboprops are essentially equivalent. Both types of aircraft are powered by turbine engines, making them virtually identical in terms of safety.
How does a turboprop work?
The turboprop uses a gas turbine core to turn a propeller. Propellers develop thrust by moving a large mass of air through a small change in velocity. Propellers are very efficient and can use nearly any kind of engine to turn the prop. General aviation aircraft use an internal combustion engine to turn the propeller. A turboprop aircraft is a type of aircraft powered by a propulsion system that combines a gas turbine engine with a propeller. An aircraft engine is the beating heart of the plane, it’s where energy is transformed into thrust or traction force. In turboprops, this energy is used to rotate a propeller.Turboprop aircraft are measurably more fuel efficient than their similarly sized jet counterparts. By some assessments, turboprops maybe 10 to 60 percent more efficient. Yet, this assessment reverses for longer missions and higher altitudes, where jets become the more fuel-efficient option.Turboprops fly at a slightly lower speed than very light jets. At cruising speed, this gives an average of 500 km/h for propeller-driven aircraft, compared with an average of 650 km/h for ultra-light private jets.
Is a turboprop safer than a jet?
That said, jets are the safer option if we look at the hard numbers. According to the IATA Annual Safety Report 2022, there was one major accident (damage to hull beyond repair) for every 7. In comparison, there was one major accident for every 560,000 turboprop flights. However, crashes are most likely to occur in single engine planes – and typically in general aviation rather than on commercial airlines. In fact, 79 percent of all aircraft accidents and 72 percent of fatal crashes involved single engine planes.
What are the disadvantages of turboprops?
However, there are drawbacks to using turboprops. Most jets can fly above or utilize the jet stream for speed and smoother rides with less turbulence. Turboprops operate at lower altitudes, making them more susceptible to turbulence and thermal effects. Turboprops can handle all kinds of weather – except when the conditions turn extreme. High winds and heavy rain can ground the aircraft for obvious safety reasons.