Question 1

Turboprops for Sale

Accepted Answer

In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the supply and demand of Turboprop aircraft. Whether one is looking to buy a used or new turboprop aircraft, there is an abundance of airplanes available for sale which can be utilized for various missions, whether it be for private or operational use. AvPay accommodates all models of turboprop planes available for sale or required by prospective buyers.

Question 2

What are Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

A turboprop aircraft is powered by a turbine engine which drives an aircraft’s propeller. Most turboprop aircraft are fitted with puller propellers, however models such as the Piaggio P180 Avanti are powered by pusher propellers. While most of the turboprop engine’s thrust comes from the propeller, a small amount of thrust comes out of the propelling nozzles. Once air enters the engine it’s compressed and then mixed with fuel, before being combusted. The combustion gases expand rapidly throughout the turbine stages, creating power.

The first turboprop aircraft to fly was a modified Gloster Meteor, back in 1945. Examples of turboprops in operation today include the DeHavilland Dash 8, which is built in Canada. The Dash 8 is a regional airliner and comes in a variety of models ranging from the Dash 8-100 which has a short fuselage and can carry up to 39 passengers, to the Dash 8-400 which has a longer fuselage and can carry up to 90 passengers. Other popular commuter turboprops include the ATR 42 and ATR 72, which are built in France, the Embraer EMB 120 which is built in Brazil, the Dornier 328 which was built in Germany and the Let 410 which is built in the Czech Republic.

Turboprop aircraft have been widely used by the military to train future pilots. The Royal Air Force used the Bae Jetstream to train multi-engine crews, before replacing it with the Beechcraft King Air B200. The RAF also used the Tucano to train its fast jet applicants, until it was replaced by the Beechcraft Texan T1.

Turboprops are widely used in the private aviation market. Given their high performance smaller Single Engine models such as the TBM 930, Extra EA500 and the Piper M600 have proven extremely popular with owners & pilots while medium-sized twin engine models such as the Cessna 441 Conquest, Commander 690, the Mitsubishi MU 2, Mitsubishi Marquise and Fairchild Merlin have been very popular with passengers & owners that require an aircraft for short-haul flights. The market-leader in recent years for single engine turboprops has been Pilatus with the PC12 series. Fitted with a large cargo door and capable of flying from grass airstrips, the 10 seat Pilatus PC12 can fly into small airfields that aren’t typically accessible to other aircraft of similar size.

On the cargo side of aviation, the Lockheed Hercules has been the backbone of many air forces throughout the world. Build in the USA, over 2,500 have been built since 1954. Featuring a very large rear cargo door which is capable of air-dropping supplies, the Hercules is equipped with a powerful reverse-thrust to help it land on short strips and can be fitted with rockets, to assist with taking-off from shorter airstrips. In recent years Airbus introduced the Airbus A400M as a competitor product

Question 3

What is the bestselling Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

With over 3,000 aircraft having been built, the Beechcraft King Air is probably the best-selling twin engine turboprop. The King Air range is quite large, with aircraft being used for a variety of tasks such as cargo, passenger flights and military training. The smaller models are known as King Air 90s, such as the King Air A90, B90 and C90. Within each model there are further variants, such as the King Air C90A, C90GT, C90GTi and the C90GTx. Other models of King Air include the King Air B100, King Air 200, King Air 250 and the King Air 300. Each variant differs slightly in both size and layout.

The Pilatus PC12 is probably the best-selling Single Engine Turboprop of the last few years. Built in Stans in Switzerland, the PC12 was introduced in 1991 and since then over 1,700 aircraft have been built. The latest versions of the PC12 include the PC12NG or Next Generation, which is equipped with a more powerful engine and an upgraded flight deck. Pilatus then launched the PC12NGX in 2020 and the aircraft featured yet more upgrades such as lower cabin noise and larger windows. With a range of over 1,800 NM and a cruising speed of 290 knots, the PC12 NGX will have you off the ground in less than 800 metres and cruising at 30,000 feet in no time!

Question 4

What are the best single engine Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

Turboprop engines are powerful and when you stick them on the front of a relatively small aircraft, you’re going to get an aircraft with a very impressive performance! Market leaders in the Single Engine Turboprop (SET) market include Daher, which have a range of turboprop models such as the TBM 700, TBM 850, TBM 900, TBM 910 and the TBM 930. Piper are also leading the market with their competing Piper M Series, which consists of the Piper M500 and the Piper M600. With a max range of 1,000 NM, the Piper M500 is capable of cruising at 260 knots, at 30,000 feet. Other SETs include the Epic E1000 and the PAC P750, which is commonly used for parachuting.

Moving over to the utility-side of the SET market, Cessna have been producing the Cessna 208 Caravan since 1984. The Caravan has been extremely effective in transporting both people and goods out of smaller, less-maintained airstrips. For this reason, the Caravan and the Caravan Grand are used by various airlines and aviation charities, such as the Mission Aviation Fellowship who use the aircraft to deliver supplies to remove villages throughout Africa and the rest of the world. Competing with the Caravan is the Quest Kodiak, which is a high-performance short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft. Quest Aircraft was bought by Daher in 2019. For passengers requiring more interior room, the Pilatus PC12 can carry up to 10 passengers and can fly out of small, grass airstrips. Its large cargo door makes it an ideal aircraft for those who want to pack larger items with them when travelling, such as mountain bikes or skis.

Question 5

What are the best twin Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

The Beechcraft King Air 360 is the latest aircraft to roll-out from the large King Air Family. Built on a proven design, the King Air 360 can fly 1,800 NM and can cruise at a sporty 312 knots. The aircraft features an upgraded interior which has a lower cabin altitude, six new interior schemes, upgraded avionics and an updated airframe.

The Avanti EVO is Piaggio’s latest model in the Piaggio P180 Avanti line-up. Built in Italy the Piaggio P180 Avanti differs from other turboprop aircraft in being fitted with pusher propellers and a canard foreplane. When compared to the Piaggio P180 Avanti II, the EVO benefits from a greater range (1,490 NM), reduced fuel consumption, a quieter cabin, and a more comfortable interior.

The Cessna 441 Conquest is a twin turboprop, capable of carrying up to 6 passengers. Its predecessor the Cessna 425 was built to compete directly with the Beechcraft King Air. The aircraft features a spacious cabin along with large windows. It’s said the more natural light you can get into an aircraft’s cabin, the more refreshed the passengers will feel when arriving at their destination.

With its square-looking windows and high T-Tail, the Piper PA42 Cheyenne is quite distinguishable from other turboprops. Built until the early 1990s, over 300 were built spanning a variety of variations such as the Cheyenne I, Cheyenne II, Cheyenne III and the Cheyenne 400.

Question 6

How efficient is a Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

A turboprop engine’s efficiency is linked to several factors, such as the number of propellers, propeller design (blade width, length, shape) propeller pitch angle, operating altitude and aircraft operating speed. Most of the turboprop engine’s thrust comes from the propellers and the higher you fly, the less dense the air becomes. Propellers operate less efficiently in denser air, so the higher you fly a turboprop aircraft the less efficient the engines become. Conversely if operating a turboprop at lower altitudes, the denser air will allow the turboprop’s propeller to operate more efficiently – in some cases more efficiently than a similar-sized turbofan engine. If you’re looking for a fast aircraft that can fly at high altitudes, you may be better off looking at an aircraft fitted with jet engines.

Question 7

What is the safest Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

The safety of an aircraft ultimately depends on how the previous and current owners & pilots have operated and maintained the aircraft. As with anything the more you look after something, the more it’ll look after you! Generally speaking, turboprop aircraft are in fact safe. A turboprop engine is effectively a turbine engine connected to a propeller. A danger posed to turbine engines which isn’t present in piston engines is the compressor stall, which typically happens when foreign objects (such as birds or ice) are introduced into the engine. Compressor stalls creates turbulent air and pressure fluctuations within the engine and while they can sometimes self-correct, they can also cause engine damage. Avro Vulcan XH558 was grounded a number of years back due to a compressor stall which damaged two engines, caused by silica gel bags which were ingested into the engine on the ground.

Question 8

What is the fastest Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

The Italian-built Piaggio P180 Avanti EVO is reported to be the fastest civilian turboprop aircraft in production, able to cruise at 402 knots. This high speed makes the EVO quicker than some light jets of similar size! In addition to getting you to your destination quickly, the Avanti models benefit from quieter cabins than most other turboprops, as the propellers are located behind the cabin.

The Piper Cheyenne while being a 1970s design, flies at a 21^st century speed. The Cheyenne 400 model is capable of cruising at 351 knots and has a max ceiling of 41,000 feet. The Cheyenne was initially developed to compete with Cessna’s Citation I and was developed from the Piper Navajo. Having set multiple time-to-climb records with Chuck Yeager at the controls, upgraded versions of the Cheyenne have been known to cruise as high as 360 knots.

The Canadian-built DeHavilland Dash 8 is a development on the Dash 7 and was built to be able to take-off and land at smaller regional airports. The Series 400 variant of the Dash 8 has a cruise speed of 360 knots, making it one of the fastest turboprop aircraft on the market. Well-known operators of the Dash 8 include FlyBe, Air Nippon Airways and SAS.

The TBM 930 is Daher’s latest addition to their TBM line and features a Garmin G3000 flight deck. The 2018 base price was set at just over $4M and the aircraft has a range of 1,730 NM. The TBM was introduced in 2016 and can cruise at 330 knots.

The Beechcraft Starship is a very distinctive 8 seat pressurised passenger aircraft, which was produced from 1983 to 1995. The aircraft’s swept wing, pusher props and canard foreplane make the aircraft unmistakeable and it’s capable of cruising at 307 knots. The aircraft was designed to be a faster successor of the King Air.

The new King Air 360 is reported to cruise at 312 knots. This latest model in the King Air line-up comes in six new cabin layouts, giving buyers the benefit of choice when selecting their interior. It also features a lower cabin altitude, reducing passenger fatigue.

The Fairchild Merlin is a turboprop business aircraft build from 1965 until 1998. The Metro version of the aircraft can carry 22 passengers and the Merlin IIIc is able to cruise at 300 knots.

The Cessna 441 was built as a stopgap between Cessna’s piston and jet aircraft and was their first turboprop aircraft to go into production. Carrying up to 9 passengers it was produced between 1977-1986 and is capable of cruising at 259 knots.

Question 9

What Turboprop Aircraft has the longest flying range?

Accepted Answer

The Piaggio P180 Avanti EVO can carry 1,451 kg of fuel has a range of 1,770 NM. Not only does the Avanti EVO have long legs, but it’ll also get you to your destination quickly. With a cruise speed of 402 knots, the Avanti EVO is the fastest civilian turboprop on the market.

The Twin Commander 1000 is the most advanced aircraft in the Twin Commander range. If flying at the reported long range cruise speed of 256 knots, you’ll be able to fly for 2,080 NM!

The King Air 360 features updates to the interior, avionics and the airframe and is the newest model to roll-out in the King Air family. When buying your aircraft, you can also choose from six different interior designs. In addition to cruising above 300 knots the aircraft has an impressive useful load of 5,145 lbs and can take-off from airfields as short as 3,300 feet. As well as being versatile and fast, the King Air 360 has long legs, with a maximum range of 1,806 NM.

The Pilatus PC12 NGX is the latest aircraft in the PC12 range. Capable of taking-off and landing from short, unprepared landing strips, the aircraft has a maximum range of 1,765 Nm.

The Daher TBM 930 is the newest model to roll-out of the factory in Tarbes, France. Capable of carrying up to 6 passengers, the aircraft is fitted with the latest Garmin G3000 avionics suite, which is the world’s first touchscreen all-glass flight deck to be designed and used for the Single Engine Turboprop aircraft market. The aircraft has a range of 1,730 NM.

Question 10

What is the cheapest Turboprop Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

In July 2022 there were over 300 turboprop listed for sale. Among the lowest-price turboprops were a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza Turboprop at $425,000. The original A36 Bonanza is a piston aircraft and can seat 6 passengers, including the pilot. There was also a Piper Cheyenne III listed for $489,000. The Cheyenne III is a development of the Cheyenne I and II and is distinguishable with its T-Tail. A Cessna Conquest II was listed for sale at $500,000. The Conquest is a 9 seat aircraft, developed from the Cessna 404 Titan. A Commander 690A was listed for sale at $574,000. With a wingspan of just over 14 metres, the Commander 690A cruises at 279 knots and can fly up to 1,471 NM.

The most expensive turboprop aircraft listed for sale was a 2020 Pilatus PC12 NGX, which was listed at $7,900,000. The PC12 NGX features larger cabin windows along with fully reclining seats.

Question 11

Who are the main Turboprop Aircraft Manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

The main turboprop manufacturers in the market are Beechcraft, Cessna, Daher, DeHavilland Canada and Pilatus.

Beechcraft are part of Textron Aviation and are headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Their newest turboprop aircraft is the Beechcraft King Air 360. Beechcraft have been manufacturing aircraft since 1932.

Cessna are also part of Textron Aviation and are based in Wichita, Kansa. Cessna is currently developing the Denali, which is a Single Engine Turboprop designed to compete with models such as the PC12, Daher Kodiak, TBM 930 and the Piper M600. The VIP version of the aircraft has a six-seat executive interior, which is also fitted with a refreshment centre. The commuter version has a nine-seat interior.

Daher produces the TBM series of aircraft out of the south west of France. The TBM series includes the TMB 700 (various versions), TBM 850, TBM 900, TBM 910, TMB 930, TBM 940 and the TBM 960.

DeHavilland Canada are based in Toronto in Canada and have been producing aircraft since 1928. The company was initially set-up to build the famous DeHavilland Tiger Moth, among other Moth models. During the Second World War the company also built the DeHavilland Mosquito, 500 of which were delivered to the UK. They also produced the DeHavilland Chipmunk, which was used in several air forces to train pilots. Other well-known aircraft from DeHavilland include the DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Otter, DHC-4 Caribou, DHC-6 Twin Otter and the DHC-8 Dash 8.

Pilatus Aircraft are based-out of Switzerland and have been building aircraft since 1939. Pilatus have built a variety of aircraft that suit different missions such as the Pilatus PC6 Porter, which is still used today for transporting people and cargo to remote airfields throughout the world. The Pilatus PC7 is a high-performance two-seat turboprop trainer, used by air forces including the Swiss Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Following the success of the PC24, in 2014 the company decided it would make shorter airfields accessible to jet aircraft by rolling-out the famous Pilatus PC24, which competes with the Embraer Phenom 300 and several Cessna Citation models.

Question 12

What is the difference between Turboprop Aircraft and Piston or Jet Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

A turboprop engine is effectively a turbine engine that’s connected to a propeller shaft. While some thrust is generated out of a turboprop engine’s exhaust, most of the thrust is developed by the propeller. A jet aircraft is also powered by a turbine engine, however the thrust is created by compressing air through a series of compressor blades and then combusting the fuel & air mixture to generate thrust out of the engine’s exhaust. A Piston Aircraft is powered by an internal combustion engine, which converts reciprocating motion (from the piston being forced down by combustion) into a rotary motion at the crankshaft. The crankshaft is connected to the propeller.

Turboprop Aircraft for Sale