The dash-8 and atr42/72 turboprop aircraft families have been around for something like 20 years.Is there any plans to replace these aircraft and what do you think the next generation turboprop aircraft will be like.

My guess is that it will have many of the features of this aircraft: http://www.airbusmilitary.com/home.html

What next generation turboprop? Jets have taken over.

Quoting Btriple7 (Reply 2): What next generation turboprop? Jets have taken over.

Not even close. Turboprops are still way cheaper if you are transporting less than around 40 people on segments shorter than 1-1½ hours.

And technically turboprops are jets 

I am not sure if there is a market to develop a new generation of turboprop aircrafts. I rather think that for the demand remaining they will update the designs of the actul planes manufactured as DHC-8 and ATR's.

Looking at corporate aircrafts, basically all turboprops except the King Air went out of production. They all are replaced by jets. Planes as the PC-12 or the TBM 700 are actual replacements for former piston twins or King Airs.

I am quite sure that this will happend anything similar to the regionals.

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1):

When is that aircraft due to be put into operation?

Thanks
Mike

Why replace something that doesn't need replacing? The Q3 and 400 still have plenty of life left in them and are still the most efficient way to transport 50 and 70 people 500 miles.

Isn't the Q400 an economic plane with decent speed ?

There's the whole prop-fan thing. That's certainly popular here at the Aero Eng dept in Bristol Uni.

Reason is the limiting factor of turboprops is that they lose efficiency dramatically at high mach numbers, so airspeed is limited. But if a new system can be developed that has the efficiency and low maintenance cost of a turboprop but can operate at high mach numbers then it'll be a serious breakthrough. If/when it happens, expect a flood of new propfan/turboprop aircraft on the market.

Quoting Dogfighter2111 (Reply 5): Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1): When is that aircraft due to be put into operation? Thanks Mike

AFAIK it's still in the "we hope it will be ordered" stage.

Antonov made some pretty impressing props, love the noise..

http://www.flightlevel350.net/download.php?id=2599

source : http://www.flightlevel350.net

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1): My guess is that it will have many of the features of this aircraf

"this aircraf" = EADS A-400.

I doubt it. The commercial world has seen very few C-130s, which various air forces consider an efficient plane. Military aircraft are hugely and expensively over-engineered for the commercial market (and probably for the military market as well). A successful commercial-to-military conversion is common; the reverse is very rare outside of Russia.

I hope there will be next generation turboprops. They are cheap and efficient. They add a little variation to the commercial scene. And best of all, they frighten people who think prop = Wright Flyer.

I imagine that eventually we'll see development of a next-generation turboprop for the 19-30 seat segment. The Beech 1900 is only going to be around so long, something will have to replace it as there will always be a market for that size of aircraft.

Quoting LeDragon (Reply 7):

If you're talking 360 knots speed and within 400 miles beats a jet,and burns a third the fuel, then yes.

Quoting Btriple7 (Reply 2):

Last time I started the Dash8 it sounded like a jet.

By the way, with the fuel prices rising as they are I think the RJs are dead!

ACJAZZAME

Quoting MasseyBrown (Reply 11): Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1): My guess is that it will have many of the features of this aircraf "this aircraf" = EADS A-400. I doubt it. The commercial world has seen very few C-130s, which various air forces consider an efficient plane. Military aircraft are hugely and expensively over-engineered for the commercial market (and probably for the military market as well). A successful commercial-to-military conversion is common; the reverse is very rare outside of Russia.

Well, I only meant that many of the features would be like on the A-400, that is a totally new turboprop. I didn't say the design would be similar.

Quoting ACJAZZAME (Reply 14): Last time I started the Dash8 it sounded like a jet.

In most ways, turboprops are closer to turbofans than to reciprocating engine aircraft.

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 15): Well, I only meant that many of the features would be like on the A-400, that is a totally new turboprop. I didn't say the design would be similar.

OK, that makes good sense. I expect it will be a smaller plane, though. The Dash 8 400 sales seem to suffer from the anti-prop prejudice in the US - if Bombardier could knock a few million off the price, they might change that.

Quoting MasseyBrown (Reply 17): OK, that makes good sense. I expect it will be a smaller plane, though. The Dash 8 400 sales seem to suffer from the anti-prop prejudice in the US - if Bombardier could knock a few million off the price, they might change that.

They also have a strong competitor in the ATR 72-500, wich is slower, but also burns less fuel, and is lighter than the Q400. IIRC the ATR 72 has outsold the Q400 this year.

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 9): Quoting Dogfighter2111 (Reply 5): Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1): When is that aircraft due to be put into operation? Thanks Mike AFAIK it's still in the "we hope it will be ordered" stage.

Orders were already made and it will be put into service in 2009.
http://www.airbusmilitary.com/commitment.html

Regards,
haj96

Next generation turboprop? Let's see... capacity between 40 and 70 pax, all composite structure, new more efficient engines, cruising speed around 670 - 700 km/h... there you have it. Whoever builds one, will be the winner.

Quoting BlueSky1976 (Reply 20): new more efficient engines,

The turboprop is already the most efficient engine on the market.

With all these LCCs flying around, there might be a market for a 100-seater turboprop. Here in Berlin, there is an invasion of Fokker 100s, and they are all doing short hops for LCCs. Most travellers wouldn't mind if the flight is 5 minutes longer, but they would welcome if it's cheaper. The only problem I see is that Easyjet had to change its name   .

A350

Quoting A350 (Reply 22): The only problem I see is that Easyjet had to change its name .

So, what's wrong with Easyprop?