Why can't turboprop fly at high altitudes?

A turboprop is a constant pressure engine, so as you climb, you kinda need to go faster and faster, but basically you still burn the same amount of air/fuel. You will lose power as you climb in a turboprop, but that's mostly cause the propeller loses efficiency at the higher speeds you fly higher up.
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Why can't turboprop fly at high altitudes?

Air is very thin at high altitude and the propellors cannot grab enough air to throw backwards to generate the thrust. TurboJet engine fans spin at 3 to 5 times the speed of propellors and can generate that thrust.
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How does altitude affect turboprops power?

Turbine engines have less power available at higher altitudes so answer "A" is correct. Both types of turbocharged piston engines can maintain full rated power as they climb, but they will eventually reach a limit where full power can no longer be maintained.
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What altitude does turboprop engine fly?

Turboprop engines are most efficient at speeds between 250 and 400 mph and altitudes between 18,000 and 30,000 feet. They also perform well at the slow speeds required for takeoff and landing and are fuel efficient.
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Why do turboprop fly lower?

As we've mentioned, turboprops are designed to operate at slower speeds and lower altitudes than jets. Why is this an important factor? Altitude is important because it affects the quality of the flight. Airspace has a tendency to be more bumpy or influenced by weather at 23,000–39,000 ft as it meets the tropopause.
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Why Can't we go higher? Why can't these Turboprops fly over a certain Altitude? GeoFS



Why are turboprop engines backwards?

Reverse Flow

Upon reaching the aft limit of the intake, the air makes a 180 degree turn back towards the front of the aircraft. In addition to that, air reverses direction again when it reaches the combustor, allowing for a shorter, more compact engine.
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What is the point of a turboprop?

High Efficiency

A turboprop engine is more lightweight than a jet engine and provides a higher power output per unit of weight. Turboprops excel at fuel efficiency in low altitudes, being able to attain high speeds with the ability to be more cost-efficient than jet flight.
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What are the advantages of a turboprop engine?

Turboprop engines are lightweight so they can provide a better performance during takeoff while maintaining fuel efficiency. There are fewer moving parts in a turboprop engine compared to other engines, making it more reliable in terms of mechanical aspects.
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How far can a turboprop plane fly?

Turboprop Planes

They can typically transport 5 to 8 people anywhere from 900 to 2,100 miles and most fly at a speed of about 315 miles per hour.
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Are turboprops louder than jets?

The noise levels in the cabins of turboprop aircraft are typically 10 to 30 decibels louder than commercial jet noise levels. However, unlike jet noise the turboprop noise spectrum is dominated by a few low frequency tones.
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Why do airlines still use turboprops?

The planes aren't as fast as jet planes, especially on longer routes. But, importantly, turboprops offer substantial efficiency improvements compared with jet aircraft on short-haul routes, an asset that operators may find attractive as they seek to meet ambitious sustainability targets.
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Which is better turboprop or turbofan?

Overall, a turboprop engine is typically going to be more efficient at subsonic speeds than a turbofan flying in the same conditions. But a turbofan engine is able to continue operating at far higher speeds than a turbofan and is necessary for planes that fly at supersonic speeds.
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Is turboprop considered turbine time?

“Turbine time” is time spent flying airplanes that are turbine powered, as opposed to being powered by a reciprocating engine. Turbine means jet, turbo-prop or turbo-fan. These types of engines are usually only found on larger, more complex airplanes, while smaller, training type airplanes use reciprocating engines.
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At what height do propellers stop working?

Most commercial jetliners have a service (or certificated) ceiling of about 42,000 feet and some business jets about 51,000 feet. Many military jets are able to fly substanitally higher but it is classified. The SR71 in 1976 published a world record 85,135 feet, however I'm sure they and some others can go higher.
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What altitude do propellers stop working?

What Altitude Do Propellers Stop Working? The propellers can only be used from a home location below 2500 m. It is possible to use both types of propellers between 1500 m and 2500 m. The high-altitude propellers, however, will increase your flight time significantly.
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What turboprop has the longest range?

Air Tahiti's 1,028-mile service from Tahiti (Papeete) to Totegegie, both in French Polynesia, is the world's longest non-stop bookable turboprop route this month. It uses 68-seat ATR-72-600s in an all-economy layout, and it has an outbound block time of three hours and 45 minutes and four hours on the way back.
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Are propellers more efficient than jets?

If you want to go slow in a small plane, propellers (driven by piston engines!) are far more efficient than jets because when you scale a jet engine down in size and thrust, its propulsive efficiency falls quickly and its operation is so uneconomic as to be uncompetitive compared to piston-driven propellers.
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Can private jets fly across the Pacific Ocean?

Crossing the Pacific Ocean

At its widest section, the Pacific Ocean covers approximately 11,000 miles. Currently there is only one jet that can cross the distance without stopping for fuel and that's the BBJ 777X, and it's one of the most expensive jets to charter privately.
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What fuel does a turboprop use?

Avgas (short for aviation gasoline) is used to power piston engines aircraft, which rely on the rotation of their propellers to generate thrust. Many modern turboprop planes also run on Jet fuel, as they feature engines with a gas turbine which power their propellers.
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Are turboprops more reliable than Pistons?

Piston engines are much more efficient at their typical power outputs and are less expensive both to purchase and operate. Turboprops are generally considered more reliable, offer higher efficiencies for their higher power outputs, and can yield much improved performance at high altitudes.
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What is the best turboprop airplane?

Top 10 best-selling turboprops in 2021
  1. Pilatus PC-12: 88. Pilatus PC-12.
  2. TBM 940: 49. TBM 940.
  3. King Air 350: 49. King Air 350i.
  4. Air Tractor 802A: 45. Air Tractor 802.
  5. Cessna Grand Caravan EX: 42. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX.
  6. Piper M600: 39. The Piper M600.
  7. Air Tractor 502A: 31. Air Tractor 502.
  8. Air Tractor 502B: 29.
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Do turboprops do run ups?

Question: Why don't jets do run-ups like piston aircraft? Answer: Turbine engines (jets and turboprops) do not need the same kind of preflight checks as piston engines. The run-ups executed by pilots of piston-engine airplanes allow them to check the ignition system for the spark plugs, plus the propeller controls.
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Is a Cessna 172 a turboprop?

The aircraft is a single turboprop and is typically used for personal and small business use, or as a trainer; Cessna has nearly 300 Cessna Pilot Centres (CPCs) worldwide. “The Skyhawk aircraft is a single turboprop, typically used for personal and small business use.”
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Are turboprops more fuel efficient than jets?

Turboprops are, in general, much lighter than jets and more fuel-efficient at lower altitudes.
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