SAAB 340 vs. other regional props

[Snaab]

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

 

[PacoPollo]

props are for boats. Fly an RJ thats a real plane!

 

[Snaab]

How much hand-flying do you do in your "real" airplane?

 

[PGTB]

As much as he wants I would imagine.

 

[WSurf]

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

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......

 

["GO AROUND"]

Flew the Junkstream and E120. Brasillia was hands down the better airplane in speed, comfort, altitude capability, noise, and handling. Have only ridden in the back of the SAAB. It has a touch more room back there but I am usually not a passenger. My seat up front was comfy. All I know about the SAAB is it was slow. Eagle guys used to call us the Enema 120 cause we were always up their a$$ following them. Used to take off after them and beat them to the same destination. Especially when the rudder limiter is deferred on the 340.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

PacoPollo, WSurf: Give the guy a break. He asked a question, you guys ripped on him. This is an aviation fourm, either answer the questions or don't post.

You don't win awards for useless posts.

 

[WSurf]

PacoPollo, WSurf: Give the guy a break. He asked a question, you guys ripped on him. This is an aviation fourm, either answer the questions or don't post.

You don't win awards for useless posts.

Thanks, If I need your advice I will give it too YOU!!!

 

[screwed_again]

Dude, it sounds like you have it figured out??????? Who cares. BTW, the dash is like a Mercedes Benz, the Saab - a buick.

 

[OPECJet]

props are for boats. Fly an RJ thats a real plane!

I'd rather screw my way around than suck and blow my way around.....

 

[BenderGonzales]

The Dornier was a Mercedes Benz (literally). The Dash -- perhaps a Cadilac with a missing muffler. The Saab... yeah, Buick is about right.

PacoPollo... whoever told you that the RJ was a "real airplane" has probably never flown a "real airplane".

 

[180ToTheMarker]

Nothing is more fun than ATL-MGM in July in the ATR with a boatload of old farts droppin' like flies due to heat stroke!

 

[Snaab]

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......

Get a life, Dash trash. You must a Riddle whiz kid and real joy to fly with.

Snaab

BTW, I've been on line for a while now.

 

[mckpickle]

Nothing is more fun than ATL-MGM in July in the ATR with a boatload of old farts droppin' like flies due to heat stroke!

Ya but at least the ATR could fill up with a full boat of old geezers. How many Saabs or Brakillas could even haul a full boat with bags on a hot day.

 

[suupah]

well the saab is a good plane. I just wish it had about 400 more hop on each side then it would be great.

the dash' is quieter andmore comfy as a passenger for sure. I hate flyin in the back of the slaab.

Send Another Airplane for Bags

 

[RP170]

The J41 was a great aircraft to fly from the pilots perspective. EFIS screens with FMS and ACARS in the ones we flew at ACA. Would true out at around 300 kts. It was noisy and uncomfortable in the back. No overhead bins, APU, etc. Passengers didn't care for it which was understandable.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Guess what guys, we all fly airplanes. Who cares about if your jet engine has a prop on it or not. "props are for boats" -- cute saying but your under age sarcasim has already been copywritten by some other tool bag. The problem with this industry is not just in the bank, it is with people who bash the type of planes you fly etc... These were the people who probably drove their folks BMW's when their parents where on vacation. Enough said!

 

[dkwid]

a plane is a plane. What truly matters is QOL, benifits and pay.

 

[blzr]

a plane is a plane. What truly matters is QOL, benifits and pay.

Unless you are riding in the back.

Don't ask a guy if he's a Dash-8 pilot!!! if he is, he'll let you know. If he isn't, DON't embarass him!

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

How many seats in the J-41?

 

[SennaP1]

30 plus the extra private room/toilet in the back.

Agree with the poster that said the '41 was a good pilot plane, but not a pax-friendly invention.

 

[satpak77]

I fly the Saab and was curious how it compares to other regional turboprops in terms of.......

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

Dude who cares? How about in terms of PAY

 

[indianboy7]

I'd rather screw my way around than suck and blow my way around.....

That's beautiful........:beer:imp:

 

[WSurf]

Get a life, Dash trash. You must a Riddle whiz kid and real joy to fly with.

Snaab

BTW, I've been on line for a while now.

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

 

[Crossky]

I fly the Saab and was curious how it compares to other regional turboprops in terms of performance, comfort, etc.

Snaab

No offense, but that's the loudest and most vibrating T-prop with a lav and FA I've been on. You should hand out earplugs and water & Tylenol. Brasilia and Dash's are quieter, then the ATR, and the Dornier 328 was truly The Quietest. Haven't ridden on the Q400.

Too bad Dornier went belly up, those airframes would still be flying if they hadn't. All of us who flew it loved it, although it wasn't perfect. It had sensitive brakes and a sucky ECS, and was over engineered, but had plenty of power for the Rockies, looked cool, was quieter than a few older jets (really) and had very low cabin vibration for a T-prop. Better brakes and ECS, an APU (in our birds) and getting rid of the laser IRU would've made them much better.

Anyway, I'm glad you like your ride, I'm sure it flies well.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Btw, anyone on here every flown the Saab 2000??

I didn't fly the 2000 but I got to fly on a demo flight that Saab had for American Eagle back in the '90's. I was also part of the team that evaluated the performance capabilities of that plane. From the demo ride, I was impressed with the power, but then again, we were very light. I was particularly unimpressed with the active noise-cancelling system that Saab was so proud about. It didn't do much - you had to really concentrate to discern any sort of effect.

Overall, the 2000 had great performance, partially because it was a prop. I can recall one of the Eagle management pilots telling me that they could pretty much catch AA's F100's in climbs and descents. The biggest problem for the 2000 was that it had props at a time when all the regionals wanted "jets". Eagle's decision to not buy the 2000 pretty much sealed that plane's fate in the western hemisphere. I think about the only operator of 2000's in the US was Ford Motor Co.

 

[Otto Coarsen]

Flew the Saab (A) and the Dash 200.

No comparison other than they are both airplanes. The dash is hands down the better product. Performance wise, it's very very clear. I have been limited to 12,000 on the east coast carrying 3/4 of the Capacity pax on the saab. DHC-8 - 37 PAX 45 Bags, blast out of KASE and climb to the flight levels at a constant 1000-1500 FPM. Great airplane. Plus you don't get those hung and hot starts that those aweful GEs are accustomed to. The CT-7 is a helicopter engine (Blackhawks I believe). It has no business on a plane. Whats up with the hydraulic system on the saab? Pathetic! 1 Electrically driven pump in the nosewell with 4 accumularors? Crap...

 

[HughBeamont]

If the Saab had 2500 shp P&Ws on each wing, you'd have a pretty decent plane from a pilot's perspective. The prop sync is so bad - I've been sitting in the back and had drug-like experiences as waves of sound oscillated through the cabin. Novel for a minute, then you just want it to stop.

Dornier 328 is by far the best turboprop I've flown on as a passenger. Lots of room, little vibration, very fast. Who the hell flew them for US Airways Express? PSA?

 

[TCAS]

SAAB... A four letter Swedish word that means "broken down again!"

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Overall, the 2000 had great performance, partially because it was a prop. I can recall one of the Eagle management pilots telling me that they could pretty much catch AA's F100's in climbs and descents. The biggest problem for the 2000 was that it had props at a time when all the regionals wanted "jets". Eagle's decision to not buy the 2000 pretty much sealed that plane's fate in the western hemisphere. I think about the only operator of 2000's in the US was Ford Motor Co.

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)