Turboprop aeroplanes

Janepig

Just googled our flight to Paris next January and it appears the plane taking us is a turboprop (link). If it was a "normal" plane I'd be fine, but I'm having a full on BA Baracus moment now and am seriously contemplating cancelling. I can't even look at the photos of it, I'm absolutely terrified at the thought of getting on that thing.

Has anyone here had any experience of these types of aircraft. What are they like? How noisy are they?

I'm gutted to find this out, I really am. I'd never have booked the flight if I'd realise it was this thing taking us :(:(.

Jx

bobajob_1966

What is your concern?

Janepig

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

What is your concern?

I'm just terrified of them. They look too "light aircraft" for my liking and you'd never ever get me on something like that. It's the propellers I think. I'm not massively keen on flying, particularly take off, but I'm okay with it, grip DH's hand and just get through it. I wouldn't have had a problem with a "normal" plane but the thought of going on one of these monsters terrifies me. Irrational probably I know.

Jx

sealady

For goodness sake, they are normal aircraft. They are certainly not a light aircraft.

withabix

'Big' aeroplanes have 'propellers' too.

They are just inside the front of the engines.

At least with Turboprops, you can see that they are working.....

bobajob_1966

Janepig wrote: »

I'm just terrified of them. They look too "light aircraft" for my liking and you'd never ever get me on something like that. It's the propellers I think. I'm not massively keen on flying, particularly take off, but I'm okay with it, grip DH's hand and just get through it. I wouldn't have had a problem with a "normal" plane but the thought of going on one of these monsters terrifies me. Irrational probably I know.

Jx

Yes, it is irrational. You'll find that if you try to pin point exactly what concerns you, and then work through whether it is justified or not, your fears will subside.

I have odd moments where I look at a plane and think 'how is that going to stay in the air'? Then I remember they have been staying up there for years, and even my hefferage ain't going to bring it down!

Janepig

sealady wrote: »

For goodness sake, they are normal aircraft. They are certainly not a light aircraft.

I know that!! They just look a bit like them. I don't know why they terrify me, but they do. Which is why I thought I'd ask what it's like to actually travel in one (ie what the cabin is like, noise, etc...) to try and make me feel a bit better.

Jx

HedgeHunter

I would rather fly on one of those old girls than the relatively new and untested A380.

kev_min

Dont sweat it, they are as safe as any plane, i guess its the propellers giving you the hebiee geebies, the engines behind them are a gas turbine like any other jet, just they provide the power to fly differently.

as to what it will be like... well its a winged aluminium tube with wings like any plane, maybe a little bit less roomy inside, it may be a bit noisier than usual, almost certainly a different noise but do not be put off by it.

remember man was flying behind propellers long before the invention of the jet engine.

Linus2864

I've been on many many turboprops over the past 46 years and have never experienced a problem with them.

They are built and maintained to the same standards as any other commercial aircraft, and the pilots that fly them also hold the same ATPL qualification as jet pilots (many of them used to be turboprop pilots).

The noises aren't that different (you still get the sounds of the undercarriage, flaps, loud engine sound on take off etc) but it just seems closer as you are in a smaller cabin. If there is any turbulence, you feel the same motions as you would in a jet aircraft.

As regards the cabin, you won't have in flight entertainment and it's unlikely that the journey will be long enough for anything except a bag of peanuts, so don't expect a meal!

You will be flying slightly lower than a jet aircraft, but this gives you an opportunity to look at the scenery below - enjoy it.

FWIW I used to fly single engined light aircraft as a hobby and even they were perfectly safe!

Hope you have a great flight!

Janepig

Linus2864 wrote: »

I've been on many many turboprops over the past 46 years and have never experienced a problem with them.

They are built and maintained to the same standards as any other commercial aircraft, and the pilots that fly them also hold the same ATPL qualification as jet pilots (many of them used to be turboprop pilots).

The noises aren't that different (you still get the sounds of the undercarriage, flaps, loud engine sound on take off etc) but it just seems closer as you are in a smaller cabin. If there is any turbulence, you feel the same motions as you would in a jet aircraft.

As regards the cabin, you won't have in flight entertainment and it's unlikely that the journey will be long enough for anything except a bag of peanuts, so don't expect a meal!

You will be flying slightly lower than a jet aircraft, but this gives you an opportunity to look at the scenery below - enjoy it.

FWIW I used to fly single engined light aircraft as a hobby and even they were perfectly safe!

Hope you have a great flight!

Thanks for the info. I won't be looking out of the window though, the thought of seeing what's below terrifies me even on a normal plane! Flew out of Cardiff once and the plane did a steep bank just after take off giving me a cracking (and unwanted!) view of the M4 below _pale_. But that's DH happy because I'm always happy with an aisle seat while he has the window.

I've been trying to get a photo or plan of the cabin but can't find one. Would it just be two seats either side of the aisle?

The flight is an hour and 35 minutes - gawd knows how I'm going to manage that long on there!!

Jx