Prop Plane

[thesshhh]

ever flown on a 50-seater propeller plane and, if so, what was the experience like?

[max137]

Yes I flew from Bologna to Milan in 50 seater prop plane, different than the usual jet, I am no expert but it seemed to me the pilot had to fly the plane at all times.

[KARL]

I have, many, many times. Nowadays the engines in "jets" and "propeller planes" are all turbines. The only difference is the way the power of the turbines is used to provide forward propulsion. The principle of the wings, controls, etc. are identical in both types. Due to the momentum of the propellers whirling around there is often slightly more vibration noise and maybe a little sensation in the latter type but, once "wound up" to full running revs, to the passenger the two feel much the same when modern aircraft are involved. Modern propeller aircraft are excellent machines and they typically need much shorter runways to take off and land and are therefore more versatile than jets, but their cruising speed is somewhat lower than that of jets. The old petrol fuelled propeller aircraft used before the advent of jets were a much more romantic experience of the day but the comfort, etc. was not a patch on modern machines and the engines were far less reliable. Oh, and even the smallest passenger prop aircraft have weather radar, an autopilot, etc. but they are unlikely to be fitted with fully automated "hands off" landing ability and in the worst visibility conditions would have to divert from the affected airport.

[Zacs-Master]

Lots of times on internal flights in the UK (Flybe). It's slightly noisier and a bit more vibration.....other than that......no difference other than the wings tend to be top-fuselage mounted so they don't get in the way of your view.

[Prudie]

Also lots of times on Flybe (they are turbo props I think). As a nervous flyer I find them less prone to turbulence than the small jet engined cigar tubes.

[Peter Pedant]

and if the engines stop
they glide dont they ?

[Prudie]

^ that's why you'd never get me in a helicopter

[Sam1960]

Took the 25min flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (Tenzing Hillary) in 2009 in a Twin Otter (holds 20)
The most amazing flight in the world, loved every minute of it ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2353434/Photographer-captures-plane-landing-clifftop-Nepalese-runway-Tenzing-Hillary-Airport.html

[Hopkirk]

Yes, I agree they can be pretty noisy, as usually they have a high wing.

This means the engine is just outside the windows

It can be a bit disconcerting if you are sitting level with the propeller.
You start imagining the prop disintegrating and a blade coming at you.
I don't think it has ever happened though.

[Peter Pedant]

I dont think it has ever happened tho ....
because she didnt google it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Canada_Air_Lines_Flight_304

propeller tears loose and passed thro passenger cabin

[Peter Pedant]

oh helicopters "autorotate" if the whirlie bit is allowed to be free

didnt happen in Glasgow a few years ago as the engine seized didnt it - and alos if the whirlie bit comes off then it pretty obviously wont autorotate

autorotation features in the film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...And_Justice_for_All_(film)

where a risk-freak judge runs out of petrol in his helicopter and the helicopter "lands" in the corner of an airfield - frightening the willie out of Al pacino who is starring

[theshedman]

Not flown on 50 seater but on smaller Cesnas a number of times. Once on honeymoon we flew from Lauderdale to Kissimmee going to Disney World. About five minutes after taking off the pilot turned around and started speaking to us. Wife just looked and said who is flying this thing. Was lovely trip though as we stayed at fairly low level for whole flight. Made nice change from he big 3 and 4 engined jets we usually flew on. Sam1960, I saw a documentry a while back with flights in and out of Lukla and it looked frightening, no room for error there. Someone sent me the link below a while back when I was going on hols. Light hearted bit of fun.

[waterboatman]

We flew to Malaya in a charter Bristol Britannia of Caledonia Airways. A four engine propeller driven aircraft. It was known as the whispering giant. A lovely aircraft, comfortable and quiet.

[atalanta]

I've flown ( passenger, not pilot) on smaller ones - quite a few. The smallest was a six-seater - a bit disconcerting seeing quite so much sea all around. But not half a disconcerting as having to share a flight with a horse.

[237SJ]

I dont like flying in little planes. The first thing I do when I go into them is look at the ways to escape in an emergency.

[237SJ]

When I mean a little plane, I mean a little 10 seater (for example) and when you are all crammed into it and the only way out is via a small window it doesn't bear thinking of.

[New Judge]

Flown quite a few times in De Havilland Dash-7s and Dash-8s from London City airport to the Continent. Comfortable aircraft, bit of a bumpy ride at times (mainly due to lower altitude than modern jets). The Dash-7 is a larger version of the Twin Otter mentioned. Flown in the seaplane version of one of those a number of times in the Maldives (between Male and the resort islands). Maldivian Air Taxis (the operator) used to fly with just one pilot and a passenger was usually invited to occupy the right-hand seat which I did once or twice. They fly with two pilots now. They had a seating arrangement of six rows of 2+1 and savvy passengers (if not invited up front) would grab the six single seats.

When you talk about decamping from an aircraft, 237, I assume you man from one that has made it safely to the ground. You should beware of thinking of decamping from an aircraft that is aloft, 237. The good thing about modern jets is that you cannot get out in the event of an airborne emergency (you can from a Twin Otter if you could manage to get the door open). Getting out of an aircraft travelling at speed is a skilled business best left to paratroopers or those blessed with ejector seats.

[237SJ]

Decamping - what's that? As an aside, I love those sea planes in the Maldives but they have some of the worst records for crashing