Aviationlover1 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 42 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9524 times:
What's the best turboprop airliner you've flown on and why. For me, I've done the Dash 7 with Hawaiian, the SAAB 340 with American Eagle, the ATR 42 with Continental Express, the Jestream 32 with United Express, and the Jetstream 41 with United Express. I would have to say the Jetstream 41 was the best. Flew on it from Norfolk VA. to Washington Dulles. Cabin was comfortable and quiet, and the aircraft flew like a rocket ship. Lavatory was big enough to use comfortably. A great aircraft. Sorry to see them all but gone in the US, but glad I got the chance to fly on one. The ATR 42 is a close second, but just blows around too much in the wind, making approach a little nauseating. On a separate note, the worse turboprop I've ever flown on was the Jetstream 32. Waaaaay to cramped, waaaay to noisy, and bounces around in the air like crazy.
Aviationlover1 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9451 times:
Oh yeah, and as for the most fun flight, that would deffinately be the Dash 7 "Island Hopping" flight I took on Hawaian. Only true STOL aircraft I've ever flown on, and man did it live up to it's STOL capabilities.
Milesrich From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9460 times:
The best Turboprops:
1. The L-188 Electra - On American, Eastern, PSA, Air California, Air Florida, and Northwest.
2. The Vickers Viscount 745D - On United
3. The following are all fine in good weather but when it gets a little bumpy, I prefer other aircraft: DHC-7, DHC-8, ATR-72, ATR-42, FH-227B, F-27, Saab 340, YS-11, Bae ATP (maybe another technical problem but very quiet and comfortable)
4. The CV-580, EMB-120, and Swearingen Metroliner are okay but the above aircraft are better
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8785 posts, RR: 52 Reply 3, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9440 times:
ATR 72. Quiet and smooth enough for me. Also rather spacious. Well worth it. Especially because it was Air Tahiti.
The Jetstream 41 is probably next. The 31 is the worst for me with the EMB 120 somewhere in the middle.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
TransIsland From Bahamas, joined Mar 2004, 2032 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9409 times:
I've been on LH and Luxair F-50s,
Bahamasair Dash-8,
Paradise Island Airlines Dash-7,
American Eagle ATR-42, ATR-72 and Saab 340,
Gulfstream International Beech 1900D,
Taino Air Embraer Bandeirante,
Cubana AN-24,
Chalk's G-73T.
The Bandeirante was a cargo plane, so that doesn't really count.
I would say it's a tie between the F-50 and the Dash-7 for second place... WAAAAAY behind the G-73T!
The loser is definetly the AN-24.
I'm an aviation expert. I have Sky Juice for breakfast.
AAJAXFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9400 times:
I've been on a bunch of turboprops, but I put the ATR-72 at the top of the list, being more spacious than regional jets. I fly them frequently on American Eagle/Executive Airlines up and down the Florida coast.
Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3095 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 9424 times:
Dash 8-200: Flew it with Horizon Air. Nice airline, nice plane. Real overhead bins. My favorite.
EMB-120: Flew it with SkyWest/United Express and Comair/Delta Connection. First turboprop flight I can remember not disliking. Real overhead bins and I like the 1x2 seating when I'm flying alone, but overall I still like the Dash 8 more.
Jetstream 32: Flew it with Trans States/US Airways Express. Cute little airplane, but no overhead bins at all. And no flight attendant.
Saab 340: Flew it with American Eagle. It's an okay plane, but the overhead bins are relatively useless.
Cessna 402: Flew it with Air Molokai. Not actually a turboprop. Lots of bumps in Hawaii's turbulent air.
David / MRY
Dash 7: Flew it with Hawaiian. Don't remember much about the flight, but do remember the front row had club seating.
YS-11: Flew it with Mid Pacific. Don't remember it.
Olympus69 From Canada, joined Jun 2002, 1737 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9367 times:
For me it would be the Bristol Britannia - the "Whispering Giant". I only flew in one once - from LHR to YUL, but that was the first trans Atlantic flight that I actually enjoyed.
Note to Johan: Will you please deep six this lousy Spell Checker and replace it with one that was published no earlier than the 20th century. It pisses me off that it doesn't recognize words like Turboprop, Britannia and Johan.
Rongotai From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 477 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9346 times:
Viscount without a doubt - HUGE windows that have never been matched. My first Viscount flight (G-AOHD of BEA RFW-MAN August 14 1961) was also my first airline flight that was NOT a DC3, so the smoothness and silence was an absolute wonder at the time.
Best modern turboprop - Air NZ Link (Mount Cook Airlines) ATR72, but also nostalgia for CityFlyer's ATR72s on which I took many jump seat rides before 9/11
DeltaBorn From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 24 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9312 times:
A United States Marine Corps operated Lockheed C-130 heading home!
WidgetBoi From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1432 posts, RR: 21 Reply 12, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9292 times:
AV8AJET From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1266 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9270 times:
I would have to say the E-120 Brasilia! Great large windows and high cruise speed. I'm a little partial since I flew it, but that's my favourite to fly and ride on!
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4750 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9257 times:
The best for power, speed, and comfort in my experience was the L-188 Electra. I wish I'd had a chance to fly the Vickers Vanguard, however; it was supposed to have been very similar. Trying one of the big Russian ones, Tu-195? - that would have been an experience, too.
The re-engined Convairs get the prize for ingenuity.
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6251 posts, RR: 51 Reply 15, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9231 times:
My favorite turboprop flight was the Comair EMB-120 that I took from MCO to EYW back in 1999. Great aircraft! I took several ACA Jetstream 41's on the one hour forty-five minute flight between PVD and IAD in 1999 and 2000...loved those flights as well...kind of pushing it as far as range goes for such a small aircraft but the flights were on the whole very enjoyable.
RKDflier From United States of America, joined May 2004, 76 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9201 times:
Having only flown B1900C&D's RKD-BOS, I'd have to say that my fav is the D with more headroom. Though I'm very sure there are much better turboprops than those.
LHMark From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7255 posts, RR: 51 Reply 17, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9199 times:
My best turboprop flight was an NLM Cityhopper F-27 in 1986. Huge windows, the drone of the Darts, and the Belgian countryside gliding past. I miss that plane.
"Sympathy is something that shouldn't be bestowed on the Yankees. Apparently it angers them." - Bob Feller
LHcapt2007 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 235 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9191 times:
Definately ATR72, American Eagle, as far as space and noise go.
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6207 posts, RR: 42 Reply 19, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 9167 times:
AmericanKing From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 81 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 9137 times:
My Favorite is the Swearingen Merlin II. It is a hog, flies a lot like a SAAB 340, great stability. Controls are very big and comfortable for an aircrat of its size and lower utilization!! Only a handful of these models exist and a friend of mine owns one!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29366 posts, RR: 61 Reply 21, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 9158 times:
The Lockheed Electra.
Flown on them and also loaded them for Reeve.
I guess the username gives it away.
Honorable mention goes to the Convair 580.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
BlackJackLV From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 40 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 9120 times:
The only turbo-prop i've ever flown has been an UA Xpres Emb-120. Those approaches to SFO were always fun...NOT.
SuperDash From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 565 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 9110 times:
This will be a surprise to everyone. The SuperDash. The Q400. It is roomy, quiet, comfortable and fast. Since I fly on Horizon regularly, add some free beer, how can you go wrong? I will fly the Q400 anywhere, anytime.
Womack17 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 465 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 9096 times:
Have flown the Dash 8-200 and 300 from EWN to CLT many times - always a smooth ride and plenty of room. The FA on this flight is usually very friendly as many have been quite gratuitous with the booze - Yeehaw!
Oh how I miss Midway Airlines. A class act right to then end.
25 S12PPL: Q400. GREAT turbo prop. Climbs fast, VERY high cruise speed. Comperalbe to RJ's, but not quite as fast. I LOVE IT. Flew on them with Horizon a bunch o
26 Aviationlover1: Okay everyone. Thanx for the great responses. From what I read, Looks like the top three seem to be the ATR-72, the Electra, and the F-27. To Milesric
27 T prop: No one mentioned the best of them all, the Twin Otter! If you need an aircraft you can count on to get the job done anytime anywhere, the Twin Otter c
28 Worldperks: Given all the Q-400 threads we've had, I'm really surprised no one has put up a photo. In the air, you don't even know you're on a turboprop.
29 Saab2000: I am sorry that nobody here has mentioned the Saab 2000! Well, I guess since it was never operated in the US many people have not had the chance to fl
30 LongHauler: My favourite has to be the Vickers Vanguards of Air Canada. HUGE Viscount sized windows, big seats, lots of room. On retirement from Air Canada, these
34 FoxBravo: In terms of passenger comfort, the Saab 2000 and ATR72-500 are hard to beat. Both are so quiet and vibration-free that they feel like jets--quite an i
35 Dtwclipper: INNflight, Must say, I took AirAlps AMS-INN in February, and was not the best experience. F/A was in a bad mood. The plane was packed and uncomfortabl
36 WindowSeat: gotta be the C172SP that I fly! cheers
38 Mu2: I pick the MU2, it's fast and fits like a glove
39 NoUFO: Saab 2000 ranks first, a close second is the Q400. For the fun of flying I would just LOOOVE to fly on a Twin Otter of the Maledivian Air Taxi *sigh*.
40 Keesje: P3C, good roll rate ! http://www.challoner.com/aviation/pix/iat96/flying/mld-p3.jpg
41 StarCruiser: The Lockheed Electra L-188 is hands down the best! I really loved it when it was still in an all first class configuration. Nowadays the ATR-72 is gre
42 Ulfinator: So I don't have a lot of experiance on Turboprops but here is my take. I have flow two different routes on Turboprops: SEA-PUW on Horizon Air Dash-8s
43 Bluemeatball: First choice: L-188A (American and Varig) roomy, comfortable and quiet in the back Second : Viscount (United, Olympic, BEA) Third: Vanguard: (BEA) Hon
47 N9801F: Dornier 328 - quiet and fast! Good for mountain flying like DEN-DRO. The funnest was the Convair 580. Some called it "The Bionic Buzzard". It was buil
50 Chriskam: The most comfortable turboprop I've flown is the Dash 8-300, which I've flown on both Widerøe and SA Express. Great legroom, not too noisy. But, the
51 4jaded: Catalina Airlines Grumman Mallard was the best Golden West Twin Otter AeroCalifornia DC-3 I think it was aerocalifornia at least LaPaz to CaboSan Luca
53 Lxsaab2000: Any doubts about it?? absolutely always SAAB2000!!!!!![Edited 2004-05-07 22:37:20]
54 FutureFO: The best turboprop of all times is the Bae Jetstream Super 31. Gotta love the mosquito mashers. Top altitude of 13000 feet and no autopilot. That is a
55 Spoon04: The YS-11's of Piedmont and Mid-Pacific !! What a solid aircraft. And quite comfortable on the inside. Ear-piercing from the outside.
56 Touchdown99: First of all, turboprops are the only real aircraft - the smaller, the better. By far the best was the Dornier 328-110. What a great aircraft. Followe
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