Bring these noisy beasts back into service

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14_ie...eature=related

 

A t-prop in the hands of an experienced crew and gutsy ATC makes for a thing of beauty.

My favorite comments and responses flying the Beech (few of our pax landed in the hub airport in an a330, etc.):

A new gate agent: "Are you the flight attendant?"
- Yep, I'm the flight attendant, baggage handler, mechanic (oil, circuit breakers, etc.) and pilot, what can I do for you?

"This plane is so small!"
- Ladies, it looks a lot bigger if you sit all the way in the back.

"I'm getting off this plane, it's been on fire! (referring to the soot stripes from the exhaust stacks)"
- No ma'am, that's exhaust, I'm just too lazy to jump up on the wing and wipe it off after every flight.

"Is there a movie on this flight?"
- Yes, a melodrama playing on two screens: 'As the props turns.'

"You did a good job flying through those thunderstorms."
-No sir, we flew around the thunderstorms.

"Is this airplane powered by rubber bands?"
- Yup, I'll need to borrow a few of the first officer's braces rubber bands for this flight.

"That was the best landing I've ever had on an airplane!"
- Well, every once in a while a blind squirrel finds a...
Oh, what the heck, thank you!

 

"Is there a movie on this flight?"
- Yes, a melodrama playing on two screens: 'As the props turns.'

I always answered that one as "yep, a two hour documentary on Wyomimng, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Hope you brought the popcorn, we'll supply the water and coffee."

 

First off, good thread. No one ripping on each other getting nowhere, probably because only prop guys are participating.

Props are here to stay, like it or not. Way back when, the Air Force wanted to become a jet only force. They have never liked the C130, but the Herc cannot be replaced. It's not about what airplane you fly, but what is the mission.

We used to wear a small patch under our Military Airlift Command patch on the flight suit that said "Lil'Mac". Why, because we get no respect. The C141 and C5 guys would look down on us with their 10,000 hour patches showing many hours in the air. While our underwear is stained red from the dust of multiple sorties to short field dirt strip's.

What’s the point?

I see the same thing today flying a Q400, no respect, from our own company, rampers, FA's, pax, ATC, despite better fuel economy and similar block times. The new generation of turboprops are much better “regional” aircraft than so called RJ’s doing mainline routes. But who cares, props have earned their niche.

 

To the OP's question.

I hope the manufacturers continue development, the Q400 is far from perfect. ATR, SAAB, Embraer, etc????

 

the EMB - not perfect either. I swear our's talk to each other, so when one is having APU problems, the others join in. Same with Lav timers. Usually it occurs when there's a full moon. The only other gripe is the Pratt 118B engine takes pretty good weight hits above 4000 feet in the summer (usually above 16 degrees C). It would be nice to get an STC for a 2000+ SHP engine to alleviate this, however the weight gained from the engine would probably decrease the payload anyway.

 

c-130 ultimate t-prop agreed.

 

awesome thread!

Just wanted to add especially in Detroit waiting for rampers, wish you had a horn to get their attention?..... Beta tube and sleeve getting those props to roar always does the trick.

i LOVE the saab but wouldn't mind getting some Q's at Mesaba when the saab contracts expire. (One for the Rumor mill anybody?! Just kidding)

 

Its fun to walk into a saab in dtw and not see yellow stickers but as long as we're making money who cares right? Outside of hearing loss, I think tprop pilots are definitely the most humble and no one ever gives me grief jumpseating!

 

I'm stoked that this thread is doing so well, everyone is super positive and has some good info/jokes of course. Ladies and gentlemen by round of applause who would like to see the aerodynamic performance of this saab demonstrated on the flight today?