SAAB 340 vs. other regional props

[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)

 

[Guitar Guy]

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)

Ah, thanks for the correction. I recalled that it was one of the automakers that had the 2000 for a while.

 

[Godfather]

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

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

 

[Sinca3]

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.

 

[trainer8]

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

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

 

[DGdaPilot]

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).

 

[PA31Ho]

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...

 

[OPECJet]

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.

The ECS in the Dash doesn't rain at all. That was the 6 mo. old sitting behind you puking up breast milk.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

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.

 

[NuGuy]

props are for boats.

And jets are for jacuzzis. What's your point?

Nu

 

[pilotmyf]

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......

WOW, that's original!!!!!