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SAAB 340 vs. other regional props

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WMUSIGPI said:
Actually it was General Motors that hat them, 3 to be exact. All were sold to and are currently operated by Hendric's motorsports. (Nascar team)
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Ah, thanks for the correction. I recalled that it was one of the automakers that had the 2000 for a while.
 
TCAS said:
SAAB... A four letter Swedish word that means "broken down again!"
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SAAB-Swedes Ain't Airplane Builders
SAAB-Send Another Airplane for Bags

The 4 2000's in the US all belong to Nascar Teams...3 with Hendrick Motosports N511RH, N509RH, N508RH and 1 with Joe Gibbs Racing N519JG all are based in Concord, NC at KJQF
 
I've piloted the ATR72 (aka "the cloud plow") and J41. Both good airplanes to fly but I would say the 41 was more fun,responsive and relatively fast, the ATR more stable (approaches) roomy. Both are loud as hell on the ground but atleast the ATR gets quieter once airborne...those damn garretts on the 41 are insane! Neither has an APU so very hot inside and ground support intensive.
As for pax side of a/c I've been in the back of Dashes (all but Q400), J41, J32, ATR42 &72, Saab 340, D328, Shorts 360, B1900.
In terms of overall comfort they would be in this order:
D328..........as quiet as a dash and comfy seats
Dashes.......quiet and roomy (although the ECS system likes to rain on you)
ATR72/42....most roomy seats (width) and next on the quiet list
Shorts360...Come on, it's a box so comfy but loud (louder than the saab)
Saab340.....Gettin loud but bareable and the seats are getting tight
J41/32........Louder and more cramped....Very hot in the back!
B1900.........The loudest T-prop I've been inside and seats very uncomfy.
 
Snaab said:
I fly the Saab and was curious how it compares to other regional turboprops in terms of performance, comfort, etc. I've only been a PAX on the Dash-8 100/200/300 and Jetstream 41. From what I've read, the Dash Q400 and Saab 2000 seem to be cutting edge in the prop arena. Btw, anyone on here every flown the Saab 2000??

To me, the SF-340 is well-mannered, forgiving, and very stable. Power in the "B" is certainly adequate (but not ass-kicking), while I think think the "A" feels underpowered. Pitch and roll is stiff in the "B" but controls feel lighter in the "A." The Saab doesn't slow down quickly, especially with the slick Hamilton Standard props. As far as comfort goes, I think it's every bit as comfortable as a Dash and certainly more so than the J-bird. Noise in the Dash and Saab seem about the same in the cabin. The J-bird seemed cramped and loud, but felt fast.

Just curious how my bird compares to the "competition." Discuss!

Snaab
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Snaab,

Enjoy the flying you are doing in the SAAB and rack up the experience. The SAAB is a proven aircraft, a solid instrument platform, and has a good track record. It's safe, and will bring you home.

Comparisons? Faster than a Dash-8-100; equal in speed to the 200/300. Much louder in the cabin.

Better than the 1900C/D and the J31/32/41 for pax comfort. Dash beats them all for cabin comfort and overhead luggage space, (except for those old PDT birds w/small overhead bins).

Q400 is awesome. The Horizon guys on this site could tell you more. I've run the IP panel in the Q400 Sim at FS in YYZ and it seems to be a very nice machine.

Best wishes. Fly safe.

T8
 
I'm enjoying the ATR. Nothing like putting 45+ passengers on board with lots of bags and taking off from a shorter strip. She becomes a pig in the low to mid teens, but you can land her damn near anywhere. Incredibly stable on approach. Flares like a Cessna 182.

No one's mentioned the A models ATR-72s (six blade Hamiltons). They're pretty quiet. Same power as the regular 72, though (2750 shp per side).

She's hot on the ground, but you do have the option of using the prop brake (I've never used it cause our company deactivated them to save money).
 
well i can't speak for the cockpit of any other plane besides the dash, but as far as deadheading.... i'l pick a dash over a an RJ any day.... if you are over 5'6" you have to sit with your head crooked, if you want to look outside it's just very uncomfortable....

the dash is very roomy- all the head room you could ask for, leg space (even in non exit rows)... sit in the back and it's not that loud...
 
Sinca3 said:
I've piloted the ATR72 (aka "the cloud plow") and J41. Both good airplanes to fly but I would say the 41 was more fun,responsive and relatively fast, the ATR more stable (approaches) roomy. Both are loud as hell on the ground but atleast the ATR gets quieter once airborne...those dang garretts on the 41 are insane! Neither has an APU so very hot inside and ground support intensive.
As for pax side of a/c I've been in the back of Dashes (all but Q400), J41, J32, ATR42 &72, Saab 340, D328, Shorts 360, B1900.
In terms of overall comfort they would be in this order:
D328..........as quiet as a dash and comfy seats
Dashes.......quiet and roomy (although the ECS system likes to rain on you)
ATR72/42....most roomy seats (width) and next on the quiet list
Shorts360...Come on, it's a box so comfy but loud (louder than the saab)
Saab340.....Gettin loud but bareable and the seats are getting tight
J41/32........Louder and more cramped....Very hot in the back!
B1900.........The loudest T-prop I've been inside and seats very uncomfy.
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The ECS in the Dash doesn't rain at all. That was the 6 mo. old sitting behind you puking up breast milk.
 
This smacks of an airliners.net Airbus vs. Boeing thread, but I relish a good turboprop debate so here it goes.

Used to fly the ATR-42/72:
A good airplane all around. I never remember having much a problem carrying bags, fuel and people, especially in the -72. The big fuel tanks were a very big plus, 11,000 lbs in the -72 if I recall correctly. I never recall being in a sticky fuel state at any rate. Easy to fly, lands like a wet dream on satin sheets. Minuses? Lethargic climb rate, the electrical system is some kind of monstrosity dreamed up in Dr. Frankensteins lab, the heat on the ground. I remember having to use all kinds of rediculous speeds... Vmlb0? Vmhb15? WTF?

Currently flying the Dash:
A fantastic airplane, IMHO. Short runways, LAHSO, absolutely no sweat. Carries more ice than is at the north pole. Bullet proof, easy to learn systems. Roomy flight deck, reasonable quiet. Easy to fly, but not to land smoothly... Sort of like jumping off of a three story building onto your peg leg. Complaints? Wish there was a cable back up on the rudder. It is hydraulic only, and that is the only weak system IMHO (even with the rudder iso valve mod). I'd love some more fuel, 5678 is a bit marginal on a long leg with a distant alternate (anyone remember the fuel stops on BGR-PHL?).

Thats the only airplanes I have actually flown... Riding in the SAAB is loud, but O.K. otherwise. The 1900 is truck but not so comfy. It gets you where you want to go, I suppose. Use to find the J32 very interesting. The passengers seemed to enjoy the lack of a yaw damper.
 
WSurf said:
You gotta be a new hire, jeezzzz!! Who cares, if you pull back the houses get smaller.... push forward they get bigger!! Hmmmm and if you pull back and the house get smaller, and continue to pull back.... well you will soon see the houses getting bigger again at a faster rate.
That about sums up flying! If you grasp that concept all you folks are now pilots......
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WOW, that's original!!!!!
 
WSurf said:
No Riddle here! My post should have given that away! You aviation nerds wouldn't know Sarcasm if someone pulled it out of there pants and slapped you in the forehead with it!! IT WAS A FUNNY!!!! Now go put that airline uniform on, poke your chest out and tell everyone you make 16k a year!

Take this test to see if your a real airline pilot!!! LOL!!
http://www.winterrowd.com/maze.swf
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Must be a corporate B!tch.
And my gut sticks out not my chest.
How is it laying around like a slob at FBOs all day?
 
The turboprops that I have flown the most are the DHC8-100 and the SF340 (A,B & B+ models). If I was to pick between the two it would be the dash hands down. System wise it has much more redundancy, larger cockpit, better weight hauler, quieter, APU and better approach speeds. On the other hand, the Saab has an outstanding safety record, and is much easier to land consistently than the Dash. The Saab is faster than the dash-100. Used to average about 250-255 KTAS in our 100's, and this time of the year the B+ saabs true around 290-295. I'm not so sure that is a good things though as I'm paid by the hour. Now the SAAB in summer, with a good load and anti-ice on, 230 KTAS for the A model. I think performance wise the dash is much more consistant and doesn't vary nearly as much as the SAAB does with temperature changes. Bottom line both get the job done, but the best description that I have heard comparing the two came from one of our union reps years ago. To him it seemed that Dehavilland took part 25 as a starting point, and designed an aircraft to exceed these minimum design criteria in all ways. SAAB took the part 25 certification requirements as a goal, and deisgned an aircraft to meet those requirements....barely.
 
sbn340mech said:
Now for an accurate refrence to a real plane look at the B727.
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A plane that requires pilots, not systems interface technicians.

Dream a little dream... now that's a work of art. I understand that the FE ride on the 727 was/is the measure of how hard a checkride really can be.
 
trainer8 said:
Snaab,

Enjoy the flying you are doing in the SAAB and rack up the experience. The SAAB is a proven aircraft, a solid instrument platform, and has a good track record. It's safe, and will bring you home.

Comparisons? Faster than a Dash-8-100; equal in speed to the 200/300. Much louder in the cabin.

Better than the 1900C/D and the J31/32/41 for pax comfort. Dash beats them all for cabin comfort and overhead luggage space, (except for those old PDT birds w/small overhead bins).

Q400 is awesome. The Horizon guys on this site could tell you more. I've run the IP panel in the Q400 Sim at FS in YYZ and it seems to be a very nice machine.

Best wishes. Fly safe.


Thank you, Trainer. I'm enjoying the Saab, and like to hear how it fairs among the crowd. Some people on this board unfortunately have to turn every thread into a pissing contest, not what I intended. I've been a couple of your E-170s- now that's a nice bird. Good luck to you!

Snaab
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The 340 has to better than the J-32!! At least you don't have to be the FA/FO!!! How I don't miss the scream of a Garrett!
 
I miss "winding up the rubber bands" after blocking in 6 times a day on the 41 back at ACA.

The 41 was cool, but keep me away from Garretts for as long as I live. Three engine failures in a year and a half is just not what I signed up for.
 
It has it's quirks, but I kind of miss the 'ol Swede!
 
I have flown the Saab 2000 for 7 years. Would of been a great corporate aircraft if Saab would of been flexible with their marketing. Load it with 43 pax, (50 max) 2500lbs of cargo, 9000 lbs of fuel, 365 kts TAS, about 3-3.5 hours endurance (1100nm), FL310 max. Avionics are great, but would like Collins to upgrade a few things (1995 era). FADEC, EICAS, PMU, 1100 PRPM for t/o and 950 PRPM climb,cruise, descent. No prop levers.
 
Heyas,

Bah, those J31s, J41s and newfangled 1900s are just too high tech for a real man.

Real men fly Metro's, Beech 99s, Twotters or "Dorks" (Dornier 228).

For a manly experience, fly a 99 (preferably a A or B model)...why have accelerate/stop charts when accelerate/slow is good enough? I mean, the airport fence will stop you if you slide off the end, right?

Nu
 
1900s are not too hi-tech...it's still a pilot's airplane...none of this automation or GPS in any of ours....it's all bad-ass old-school hand flying...and we fly it like we stole it. Dash 8 1/2/300s and the Saab ain't got ********************e on us. Beeches outclimb all of the above, and certainly own the terminal area. 240 to 4 miles out? no problem.
 
plus: our Beeches are so worn out and twisted they all fly differently on from day to day...5 or 6 MEL's??? nothing out of the ordinary....the beech is half-broke all the time, and carries it's fair share of ice...gotta love the poor old girl.
 
D328 is still the hottest and best TP out there. I know a few people who flew them and they all give rave reviews - fast, advanced, good looking on the ramp. I know Vision Air out of North Vegas still flies a few to the Canyon and Phoenix. Nice EFIS package up front too - great glass experience for a prop.
 
On Your Six said:
D328 is still the hottest and best TP out there. I know a few people who flew them and they all give rave reviews - fast, advanced, good looking on the ramp. I know Vision Air out of North Vegas still flies a few to the Canyon and Phoenix. Nice EFIS package up front too - great glass experience for a prop.
Click to expand...

Guess you haven't seen the Q400's Glass! At that time the D328 was great airplane, but it doesn't come close the the Q400.
Check out the website! Its basically a TurboJet Airplane with Props. It has some pretty impressive numbers for a Prop.

www.q400.com
 

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