CanadianDC10 From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 335 posts, RR: 6 Posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1502 times:
What do you think are the best or worst regional props to fly in in terms of comfort/noise levels/spaciousness? I've never flown in a propeller aircraft before, and I was just wondering what you guys thought.
Lindy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1497 times:
I was in UAX J32 - terrible seat pich (if any at all hehehe) Very loud
Trans World Express DCA-JFK J41 - seats were ok but very loud
EuroLOT RZE-WAW ATR-42 not enough leg room for me (I am 6'4") and loud
American Eagle DCA-JFK-DCA ATR-42 same as EuroLOT
Crossair ZRH-KRK Saab 2000 very quiet, nice leg room, and nice to fly in.
TimeForFlight From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 267 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1469 times:
I just have always enjoyed the BAe Jetstream - its a fun little aircraft... Nothing spectacular about it, less noisy than other turboprops, but its just presonal preference I guess...
SegmentKing From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1463 times:
I love the Brasilia... it has an APU so when yer on the ground, you aren't melting in the cabin... the plane has good seat pitch (row 8/9 depending on config), and it's a solid airframe.
I HATE the J32 (ugh!)... no arm rests, no tray tables, 28" seat pitch.. almost as bad as being stuck on a charter!
Johnnybgoode From Germany, joined Jan 2001, 2187 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1461 times:
many Fokker 50 pilots claim it´s the rolls-royce among the turboprops.
i´ve never flown on any of them, but i had more enjoyable rides on SF 340s and even on HS 748s than on Dashs and ATRs.
rgds
daniel
If only pure sweetness was offered, why's this bitter taste left in my mouth.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3191 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1415 times:
I would rate the Dash 8 Q series as the best turboprops I have flown in - they are very smooth, silent and fast. Others I have flown were the HS 748 (very rough and agonizingly slow), YS11 (larger and more stable but still slow), Saab 340 (tiny but good) and Shorts 360 (quite a good ride notwithstanding its ungainly looks).
DeltaBoy777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 411 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1378 times:
Best: Dash 8, ATR-72, EMB-120, Saab 340
Worst:Fairchild Metroliner ( I see why people hate these planes!!)
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 9, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1369 times:
The best of the modern turboprops are the DH-8-xxxQ, the Saab 2000 and the F-27.050 (AKA Fokker 50). The worst in airline swervice is the Metro. The Metro is a great aircraft, at least as a Merlin. The stretch and weight savings needed to be profitable for airline service ruined the type.
These are just opinions of course. The Metro is, as we all know, the granddaddy of the commuter fleets of today.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Kjet12 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 975 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1360 times:
Based on my personal experiences with props, I would have to say the best are the Saab 340, and the DO-328. I think the worst are the BAe-ATP (J-61) the Metro III, and the EMB-120. Those are the only props I have flown in!
CMK10 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 513 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1344 times:
Best: Saab 340
Worst: ATR42
DC-10's Forever
"Traveling light is the only way to fly" - Eric Clapton
MCOtoATL From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 474 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1339 times:
This past week I had my first flight in a Beech 1900, a Continental Connection flight operated by Gulfstream Int'l. It was an hour flight from Orlando to Miami.
The 19 passenger plane has no flight attendant, and there is no door or curtain to the cockpit. I was in seat 1F (there is one seat on the left side - 1A, an aisle, and one seat on the right, 1F) There is no window in the first row, but we could see out of the "windshield." We could also read the gauges and cockpit instrumentation. Seeing an approach out of the front is radically different than seeing things out of the side windows. It was a fairly smooth aircraft despite stormy weather, and it has great takeoffs.
Mf3864 From United States of America, joined May 2002, 118 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1270 times:
Like:
1st place - Dash8 - I like 2x2 seating, I am claustrophobic, and it seems bigger than the 1x2 seating. (i know, its an illusion) Bathroom is usable
Close 2nd place - Saab 340B - comfy, not as quiet as the Dash8 but, still feels solid, and gives a good ride. Bathroom is useable if you stoop on AEagle. (the put the bathroom in front, instead of in rear)
Dislike:
Embraer 120 - seems more cramped than the Saab 340B. also seems louder. i took a ComAir flight from MCO to EYW in one, and cracked my shin on the way out. the door opening is smaller, or maybe im accident prone. Bathroom ridiculous to use.
HUYfan From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 1372 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1253 times:
F50, nice cabin, KLMuk has LOADS of legroom.
ATR-72, thought it was noisy, BA legroom ok.
Dash 8 Q200/300, flyBE very plesant interior, modern and fresh looking, but still noisy.
Dash 8 Q400, flyBE have leather seats, VERY nice interior, but, even though the claim is that it is QUIET, still considerable noise.
J41, simply too small and cramped, but becasue it flies lower than most, nice views from large windows.
ATP, nice cabin, but slow.
My Favorite is the venerable SHORTS 360 though, that's REAL flying!! i look back at the days when i used to fly HUY-AMS on the shed, and hated the thing, now i really miss the experience!
And by far the best and most "airliner" feel was the Fokker 50. It is a great plane to fly in..very comfortable. The F27 however wins my award for my favourite prop....those massive windows, the noise, the vibration....now thats flying!!! I am a bit of a prop-freak....i love flying in them...it's back to basics. Love it!
Caribb From Canada, joined Nov 1999, 1627 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (10 years 11 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1222 times:
I've only flown the BEH 1900D and Dash-8 series.. both were very comfortable and seemed very comfortable. The Beech was loads of fun just because you really "felt like you were flying in the days of early aviation" (open air cockpit, single seats etc..... The Dash-8 seemed well designed and comfy as well.. no complaints for either one.
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 335 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 267 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2001, 2187 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 319 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
