POWER!!! The 200 has more of it! Oh yeah, and the prop tips are usually painted a different color.

 

I remember one time I was asked questions about the EMB-120 when I was jumpseating home from FAT to PHX (Mesa LOL!). Somehow the question came up about speed and I said the only TPROP that I've been out run by was the Q400 (great bird) and I believe it true’s out around 40 kts faster than the Bro with higher climb rates. I said that the SAAB's, Q1/2/3's and Beeches keep us down on the last day when we fly get home power and we mind going so. Usually, on go home day, we try to stay down below 18K, get them in site, let ATC know that we can maintain visual, set MAX Torque for cruise and wave as we go by. To my knowledge only the DoProp (Do328 prop), Saab 2000 and the Q400 are faster than the Bro.

Somewhere in the middle of the conversation the both pilots chuckled and the CA said:

"That’s like trying to figure out who the fastest retarded kid at the Special Olympics."

Although I admit it was funny and it somewhat makes sense, it just goes to show you what some think of us prop lovers.

 

just like what these guys have said a turbo prop can do things alot easier than a jet in some situations. Now the atr cant get out of its own way above 10000 feet in a climb where a jet can still manage a good 1500 feet a minute plus. However the prop can slow on a dime. the huge props up there are like drag chutes. You can easily go from a clean max speed configuration to a dirty on ref configuration in a matter of seconds.

 

The SAAB2000 is a terrific airplane too. But out of production and a very complex machine, probably unsuited to the abuse it would get here. When I flew them in Switzerland they were pretty maintainance intensive.

The other day I heard a Colgan Q400 on the frequency out east. The controller was asking their speed and then said that it was causing a bit of concern because it was too fast for the lower, normal turboprop altitudes but too slow for the normal jet altitudes. Doesn't really fit in well to the current scheme of how they ran it. That would be a lesser problem in less congested airspace of course.

Fact is though, that out east where I do about 98% of my flying the turborpops would be nicer. We are slowed to 250 so often it makes me sick. Of course, the fuel flow drops way back when at 250 knots at FL290, but it seems to kind of defeat the purpose of flying a jet.

Anyway, seems like most pilots like props, but passengers don't. I always get a kick out of the folks who would rather fly in a 40+ year old NWA DC-9 than a brand spanking new Q400!

Also, the SAAB2000 was WAY better to fly in the gusty, turbulent conditions that are common in the northeast US. Far better speed control coming down the ILS in a 25 knot gusty wind.

 

The most fun I've had is taking off behind an Air Shuttle Dash 8 and passing them in the climb. Departure usually dishes out some kind of speed restriction in the climb, or tells us to do "best rate" to 230. Unfortunately for them, they don't realize "best rate" for the burrito bomber is 700-1000 fpm for the long haul.

 

We have that problem alot as far as speed. Sometimes they will see we are a dash and put us at 16,000 feet or so where we will do almost 370 knots true which is over 100 knots faster than most of the props we run with.

I dont really think it is a problem when we fly in the levels around 200-250 because most jets doing similiar stage lengths seem to be hanging out around the high 2's and low 3's so our speed is just fine out there. Some controllers think we are a slow jet and others dont know what to think, it is taking some getting used to for everyone. We can climb in a hurry though like others have said at IAS of 230-250 we can hold around 1500 FPM up to 250 with full pax and fuel.

 

Burrito bomber...hahaha. I've heard of taco turbine, but burrito bomber's a new one to me.

 

tel that to the newhires @ NWA that are on the -9, or the american guys on the -80s

 

It took LAX a long time to figure out how these things "fly" also. But once they realized that you can do 246kts to about 7 mile final and still configure and land they start to like you. At least on this coast most places have learned the aircrafts abilities and seem to adapt.

 

The best thing about props is when you're parking and the rampers are standing four feet from the side of the prop arc proving how bad @#% they are.