This test aircraft became the first turboprop-powered aircraft to fly, though it never entered production. A turboprop consists of an intake, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Search This wiki This wiki All wikis | Sign In Don't have an account? Category page. The blades of a constant-speed propeller increase pitch as aircraft speed increases, allowing for a wider range of airspeeds than a fixed-pitch propeller. [22] Jendrassik published a turboprop idea in 1928, and on 12 March 1929 he patented his invention. Photo: UAC. The turboprop airliner soon became highly regarded for its comfortable, luxury flying experience. … The Aircraft For Sale directory allows potential buyers to search through all airplanes for sale on Aviators Hot Line. Filtering By: Applied Filters Clear All. Two occurrences resulted in minor injuries due to engine malfunction and terrain collision in agricultural aircraft and five accidents involved aerial work: four in agriculture and one in an air ambulance.[37]. From their experience with the Trent, Rolls-Royce developed the Rolls-Royce Clyde, the first turboprop engine to be fully type certificated for military and civil use,[28] and the Dart, which became one of the most reliable turboprop engines ever built. The drawing was very close to what the future Rolls-Royce Trent would look like. Additionally, in the event of an engine failure, the propeller can be feathered, thus minimizing the drag of the non-functioning propeller. In 1938, he built a small-scale (100 Hp; 74.6 kW) experimental gas turbine. Rolls-Royce went on to develop two additional turboprop engines, the Clyde and the Dart. As Russia’s new Ilyushin Il-114-300 turboprop prepares for its maiden flight in 2020 we thought we would take a look at the United Aircraft Corporations (UAC) new regional airliner. 1989 AIR TRACTOR AT-402. However, it wasn’t until after WWII that the aviation world became interested in using turboprop engines to power aircraft. [11], Alan Arnold Griffith had published a paper on turbine design in 1926. All Rights Reserved. Turboprops are the economic solution for short distances of up to 3 - 4 flight hours. Read More. In addition to the usual catering services, individual requirements can also be taken into consideration. Add new page. [12][13], The propeller is coupled to the turbine through a reduction gear that converts the high RPM/low torque output to low RPM/high torque. The USA would incorporate contra-rotating turboprop engines, such as the ill-fated twin-turbine Allison T40 — essentially a twinned up pair of Allison T38 turboprop engines driving contra-rotating propellers – into a series of experimental aircraft during the 1950s, with aircraft powered with the T40, like the Convair R3Y Tradewind flying boat never entering U.S. Navy service. The Ipanema is the only airplane in the world run 100% on ethanol. Prices, photos and registration numbers are also available on many of the airplanes for sale. In 1945, a modified British Gloster Meteor fighter was fitted with two Rolls-Royce RB.50 “Trent” turboprop engines driving 5-bladed propellers. Register Military. And although turboprops generally have lower service ceilings compared to jets, they also burn less fuel per passenger for the same amount of flying time, making them a more cost-effective solution for shorter flights. GE Aviation’s first turboprop application nearly 10 years ago was for aerial application exclusively on Thrush Aircraft’s 510G. The company's first turboprop, the M601 is used in business, agricultural and military training aircraft. Financial Calculator ; Print This; Email This; Turboprop Aircraft For Sale. AT-802F – Initial Attack Firefighter; AT-802F FIRE BOSS – Amphibious Scooper Air Tanker; Utility Aircraft. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Serial Number: AT402-0712. Models of Tractors and Plant Collectable Models Engineering Models Explore. The world's first single engined turboprop aircraft was the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba-powered Boulton Paul Balliol, which first flew on 24 March 1948.[30]. The hot combustion gases expand through the turbine. 2005–2006. A common combination (see Pages in category "Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft" The following 130 pages are in this category, out of 130 total. From North, South and Central America, to Australia, Indonesia and China to Spain, Italy, Croatia and Africa, Air Tractor aircraft can be found in more than 30 countries around the world and are supported by a global network of Air Tractor dealers. The first turbine-powered, shaft-driven helicopter was the Kaman K-225, a development of Charles Kaman's K-125 synchropter, which used a Boeing T50 turboshaft engine to power it on 11 December 1951.[32]. It was of axial-flow design with 15 compressor and 7 turbine stages, annular combustion chamber and many other modern features. In 1992, Pacific Aerospace launched a new version of its agricultural and utility aircraft which was powered by a PT6. Home > TurboProps > Single Engine. In its simplest form a turboprop consists of an intake, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. A turboprop engine is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.. Turboprop aircraft. in: Turbine-powered aircraft, Turboprop aircraft engines, Propeller aircraft by engine type. [7] A higher proportion of the thrust comes from the propeller at low speeds and less at higher speeds. High/Low/Average 1 - 15 of 15 Listings Sort By: Done. This enables the propeller to rotate freely, independent of compressor speed. I… First run in 1940, combustion problems limited its output to 400 bhp. Filtering By: Applied Filters Clear All. But when were turboprop aircraft first introduced, and how have they evolved in the changing aviation world? For Sale Price: USD $765,000. [23] The larger Jendrassik Cs-1, with a predicted output of 1,000 bhp, was produced and tested at the Ganz Works in Budapest between 1937 and 1941. They produced approximately 1,600 before ceasing production in 1967. Air is drawn into the intake and compressed by the compressor. Turboprops offer impressive short take-off and landing capabilities, enabling pilots and passengers to access remote locations around the world. With better fuel efficiency and the ability to carry a large number of passengers, the Viscount also offered lower operational costs than jet airliners. Sortable aircraft features include aircraft type, make and model, state and year. [14], Unlike the small diameter fans used in turbofan jet engines, the propeller has a large diameter that lets it accelerate a large volume of air. Foundation and relocation. [25] The first British turboprop engine was the Rolls-Royce RB.50 Trent, a converted Derwent II fitted with reduction gear and a Rotol 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) five-bladed propeller. Turbine Agricultural Aircraft. The GE H-Series is a family of turboprop engines o˜ ering a customized range of ratings and performance for commuters, personal and agricultural aircrafts and aerobatic trainers. [8], Turboprops have bypass ratios of 50-100[9][10][11] although the propulsion airflow is less clearly defined for propellers than for fans. Page 1 of 1 [24], The first mention of turboprop engines in the general public press was in the February 1944 issue of the British aviation publication Flight, which included a detailed cutaway drawing of what a possible future turboprop engine could look like. We’re taking a closer look at the origin of turboprop aircraft. Agricultural (2) Aerobatic (1) Manufacturer. Aircraft Technical Data & Specifications. Owing to the additional expansion in the turbine system, the residual energy in the exhaust jet is low. Financial Calculator. Les meilleures offres pour 8/1976 PUB GARRETT TPE331 TURBOPROP AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT MARSH TURBO THRUSH AD sont sur eBay Comparez les prix et les spécificités des produits neufs et d'occasion Pleins d'articles en livraison gratuite! Subsequent work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment investigated axial turbine designs that could be used to supply power to a shaft and thence a propeller. Large military aircraft, like the Tupolev Tu-95, and civil aircraft, such as the Lockheed L-188 Electra, were also turboprop powered. TPE331 series. 4. Main features. [33] However, compared to a turbojet (which can fly at high altitude for enhanced speed and fuel efficiency) a propeller aircraft has a lower ceiling. The propeller itself is normally a constant-speed (variable pitch) propeller type similar to that used with larger aircraft reciprocating engines, except that the propeller control requirements are very different. Compare this product Remove from comparison tool. The world's first turboprop engine that went into mass production[specify] was designed by a German engineer, Max Adolf Müller, in 1942. [4][5][6] Consequently, the exhaust jet typically produces around or less than 10% of the total thrust. To increase propeller efficiency across a wider range of airspeeds, turboprops are typically equipped with constant-speed (variable-pitch) propellers. Registration #: N383AS. This permits a lower airstream velocity for a given amount of thrust. Agricultural aircraft, typically used for the aerial application of pesticides and fertilizers, are available in piston or turbine models, and some are equipped with spreaders and other gear. Search. When compared to piston-engine aircraft, the turboprop Viscount offered a smoother flight with less noise and vibration. Print Email. High/Low/Average 1 - 4 of 4 Listings Sort By: Done. Currency: Sort Order: Turboprop Aircraft. Agriculture Aircraft. Leasing Prices: Call. Print Email. Category:Turboprop aircraft | Military Wiki | Fandom. Contact . Walter E. Piatt; Project maintenance. Engine Notes: PRATT & WHITNEY PT6A-15AG18,134.8 TTE 108.1 SHI… For Sale Price: Call. Modern turboprop airliners operate at nearly the same speed as small regional jet airliners but burn two-thirds of the fuel per passenger. [26][27] It first flew on 20 September 1945. Exhaust thrust in a turboprop is sacrificed in favour of shaft power, which is obtained by extracting additional power (up to that necessary to drive the compressor) from turbine expansion. As jet fuel can be easier to obtain than avgas in remote areas, turboprop-powered aircraft like the Cessna Caravan and Quest Kodiak are used as bush airplanes. In this high-performing, rigorous industry, GE’s H80 engine proved itself and gained a following among operators who wanted something less – less fuel, less maintenance, lower costs, and lower temperatures. Further expansion of the gases occurs in the propelling nozzle, where the gases exhaust to atmospheric pressure. [35] Less widespread and older airliners include the BAe Jetstream 31, Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner, Dornier 328, Saab 2000, Xian MA60, MA600 and MA700, Fokker 27 and 50. 282,545 Pages. N1012B - 1989 AIR TRACTOR AT-402FOR LEASE OR SELL. Welcome to our extensive Aircraft Data and History section. UAC plans to build 12 Il-114-300s per year. Hartzell Propeller Inc. One Propeller Place Piqua, Ohio 45356, Toll-free for North America: 1-800-942-7767. Fuel is then added to the compressed air in the combustor, where the fuel-air mixture then combusts. Most visited articles. Turboprops . 1000 - 3000hp turboprop TPE331 series. Registration #: N1012B. [19], While the power turbine may be integral with the gas generator section, many turboprops today feature a free power turbine on a separate coaxial shaft. Compared to turbofans, turboprops are most efficient at flight speeds below 725 km/h (450 mph; 390 knots) because the jet velocity of the propeller (and exhaust) is relatively low. This machine, designed by Monk, was powered by an American engine, however. 153 (OKB-153).It was headed by Oleg Antonov and specialised in turboprop military transport aircraft.The task was to create an agricultural aircraft CX-1 (An-2), the first flight of which occurred on August 31, 1947. The Bear would serve as their most successful long-range combat and surveillance aircraft and symbol of Soviet power projection throughout the end of the 20th century. 1000 - 3000hp turboprop. Today, turboprops are flown for a wide range of missions including charter flights, cargo transport, and even high-tech agricultural applications. The Airbus A400M is powered by four Europrop TP400 engines, which are the second most powerful turboprop engines ever produced, after the 11 MW (15,000 hp) Kuznetsov NK-12. As it is more efficient at low speeds to accelerate a large amount of air by a small degree than a small amount of air by a large degree,[15][16] a low disc loading (thrust per disc area) increases the aircraft's energy efficiency, and this reduces the fuel use. Recent Changes; Random page; Community; Videos; Images; Discuss. In 1941, the engine was abandoned due to war, and the factory was turned over to conventional engine production. Top manufacturers include CESSNA and BEECHCRAFT. 388 civil aircraft in use or under development are currently included with many more to come. Compare Selected Listings. Today, turboprops are flown for a wide range of missions including charter flights, cargo transport, and even high-tech agricultural applications. Its first flight was on 16 July 1948. The aircraft listed in the directory can be sorted by aircraft type, state, year or even price. Compare . The first U.S. turboprop airliner was the L-188 Electra, produced by Lockheed in the late 1950’s and used first by American Airlines. Design of an agricultural aircraft, to a specification laid down by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, was initiated in May 1969 by the Departmento de Aeronaves of the nation's Centra Te'chnico de Aeronautica. BE-350 (SUPER KING AIR) TurboProp - Seats: 8 Price per hour: $2000 With the ability to transport four or more passengers 1,500-plus nautical miles, turboprops in general provide more power, speed, and safety than piston aircraft and friendlier prices and ongoing maintenance and service costs than jets. View Details. Piper (21) Pilatus (19) Cessna (17) Socata (7) Siai Marchetti (4) Farner-Werke (2) Zlin Aerospace (2) Aerocomp (1) Quest Aircraft (1) Antonov (1) Model. Piston Agricultural Aircraft For Sale 1 - 4 of 4 Listings. Agricultural aircraft, typically used for the aerial application of pesticides and fertilizers, are available in piston or turbine models, and some are equipped with spreaders and other gear. Units: Imperial (US) Metric. Popular pages. Green, W. and Swanborough, G.; "Plane Facts", constant-speed (variable pitch) propeller, Subsequent work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Aero/Rockwell Turbo Commander 680/690/840/960/1000, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Aircraft Design: Synthesis and Analysis, Propulsion Systems: Basic Concepts, 11.5 Trends in thermal and propulsive efficiency, The shaft driven Lift Fan propulsion system for the Joint Strike Fighter, "Operating Propellers during Landing & Emergencies", "Magyar feltalálók és találmányok – JENDRASSIK GYÖRGY (1898–1954)", "Our Contribution – How Flight Introduced and Made Familiar With Gas Turbines and Jet Propulsion", "rolls-royce trent – armstrong siddeley – 1950–2035 – Flight Archive", "Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Collections – Kaman K-225, "More turboprops coming to the market – maybe", "Beechcraft King Air 350i rolls out improved situational awareness, navigation", "ATSB Study Finds Turboprop Engines Safe, Reliable", "The H-Series Engine | Engines | B&GA | GE Aviation", Electronic centralised aircraft monitor (ECAM), Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), Engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS), Full Authority Digital Engine/Electronics (FADEC), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turboprop&oldid=1001278558, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing more detailed references, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Articles needing additional references from July 2010, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 January 2021, at 00:36. The success of the Ipanema fueled expansion of the Embraer factory in Botucatu, which today employs more than 1800 people. Known by some as the "workhorse of the north", the Beaver has been instrumental in the development of modern frontiers around the world. As market leader in the agricultural aviation sector, the Ipanema has proven to be one of our big hits, and is also the only airplane in the world run on ethanol. TURBINE AGRICULTURE. In 1947, the De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada introduced the DHC-2 Beaver aircraft. Some of today’s turboprop aircraft include the Beechcraft King Air, Cessna Caravan, Pilatus PC-12, and Daher TBM aircraft. Additionally, due to the much lighter fuel weight of LH2, payload can increase significantly, thus allowing LH2 price per BTU to be as high as 3 times the price of jet kerosene fuel. 01. Agricultural Machinery. Air Tractor is a leading manufacturer of purpose-built aircraft for agricultural, firefighting and a variety of utility applications. The Soviet Union built on German World War II development by Junkers Motorenwerke, while BMW, Heinkel-Hirth and Daimler-Benz also developed and partially tested designs. turbine engine driving an aircraft propeller, Airscrews For Turbines,Fairhurst, Flight magazine, 10 November 1949, p.609. Turboprop engines are generally used on small subsonic aircraft, but the Tupolev Tu-114 can reach 470 kn (870 km/h, 541 mph). A turboprop version of the aircraft, the Cresco, meaning “I grow” in Latin, first flew in February 1979. Epic Aircraft expects to begin customer deliveries of its $3.25 million E1000 turboprop single by year-end. But when were turboprop aircraft first introduced, and how have they evolved in the changing aviation world? Another benefit of this type of propeller is that it can also be used to generate negative thrust while decelerating on the runway. SINGLE ENGINE TURBOPROPS FOR SALE WORLDWIDE. Page 1 of 1 Browse a wide selection of new and used Turboprop Aircraft near you at www.southdeltaaviation.com. Yes, smaller-aircraft turboprop engines have poor efficiency and would be better off replaced with FC that can double the fuel efficiency. Start a New Search. Turboprop aircraft use the power of a gas turbine to drive the propeller and generate thrust. [7] However, propfan engines, which are very similar to turboprop engines, can cruise at flight speeds approaching 0.75 Mach. The first American turboprop engine was the General Electric XT31, first used in the experimental Consolidated Vultee XP-81. A turboprop engine is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.[1]. Equipped with four Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines, the British aircraft had a pressurized cabin and was capable of carrying 40 to 65 passengers. By taking advantage of the aerodynamic propulsion produced by the propeller, turboprops can outperform jet engines in terms of efficiency at speeds slower than 400 knots. In April 2017, there were 14,311 business turboprops in the worldwide fleet. About Turboprop Aircraft. Turboprop Aircraft For Sale 1 - 25 of 672 Listings. Top manufacturers include CESSNA and BEECHCRAFT. Category:Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft. In contrast to a turbojet, the engine's exhaust gases do not contain enough energy to create significant thrust, since almost all of the engine's power is used to drive the propeller. Browse a wide selection of new and used Turboprop Aircraft near you at www.agaircraft.com. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}Jane's All the World's Aircraft. 3 Results Found | This Page: 1 of 1. The company was established in 1946 at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association as the top-secret Soviet Research and Design Bureau No. Two Trents were fitted to Gloster Meteor EE227 — the sole "Trent-Meteor" — which thus became the world's first turboprop-powered aircraft, albeit a test-bed not intended for production. One of the latest designs added to Hartzell’s growing family of composite blades for turboprops was recently certified on the Beechcraft King Air 350. Compared to piston engines, their greater power-to-weight ratio (which allows for shorter takeoffs) and reliability can offset their higher initial cost, maintenance and fuel consumption. The Dart-powered Vickers Viscount was the first turboprop aircraft of any kind to go into production and sold in large numbers. [36], Between 2012 and 2016, the ATSB observed 417 events with turboprop aircraft, 83 per year, over 1.4 million flight hours: 2.2 per 10,000 hours. Depending on the type of plane, they have seating for 2 - 10 people (for turboprops with 18 seats and more, see "Airliner Turboprop". At Hartzell Propeller, we’re proud to offer the world’s largest selection of composite propellers for turboprop applications. Modern turboprops also have a level of versatility that’s unmatched by light jet aircraft. [31] The XP-81 first flew in December 1945, the first aircraft to use a combination of turboprop and turbojet power. Homepage Aircraft Turboprops. Number of Seats: 0. Prices, photos and registration numbers are also available on many of the airplanes for sale. However, the aircraft’s success was short-lived once airliners replaced turbprops with jets as the Golden Age of passenger air travel emerged. With the combination of a turbine jet engine and constant speed propeller, turboprop aircraft offer advantages in reliability, efficiency, and versatility. Fuel is then added to the compressed air in the combustor, where the fuel-air mixture then combusts. Some of the power generated by the turbine is used to drive the compressor. From 1929, Frank Whittle began work on centrifugal turbine designs that would deliver pure jet thrust. The versatile STOL single-engine turboprop airplane is the first aircraft from our company in several decades, but it has a great tradition to follow on. Serial Number: LJ-747. Email Seller. Apart from the above, there is very little difference between a turboprop and a turboshaft. The engine is a two-shaft, reverse ˚ ow design featuring an axial-centrifugal compressor, an annular combustor with slinger ring fuel distributor and a single high pressure˛ turbine stage. The aircraft listed in the directory can be sorted by aircraft type, state, year or even price. In 2017, the most widespread turboprop airliners in service were the ATR 42/72 (950 aircraft), Bombardier Q400 (506), De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100/200/300 (374), Beechcraft 1900 (328), de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (270), Saab 340 (225). [29] It was also the first four-engined turboprop. List of Heavy Haulage Contractors; Models. Edit. The technology of the Allison's earlier T38 design evolved into the Allison T56, with quartets of the T56s being used to power the Lockheed Electra airliner, its military maritime patrol derivative the P-3 Orion, and the widely produced C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. Read More. The first turboprop engine was patented in 1929 by György Jendrassik, a Hungarian physicist and engineer. Aircraft with two turboprop engines, driving tractor propellers. Before we get into that, let’s first take a look at how the Ilyushin Il-114 first came about. AT-402B – Move Up To A Turboprop; AT-502B – World’s Most Popular Ag Plane; 502XP – More Power To You; AT-504 – Trainer and Breadwinner; AT-602 – Big Time Efficiency; AT-802A – High Production Profitability; Firefighting Aircraft. [20] Residual thrust on a turboshaft is avoided by further expansion in the turbine system and/or truncating and turning the exhaust 180 degrees, to produce two opposing jets. 1978 BEECHCRAFT KING AIR C90. 100 - 200kg for airliners. In 1948, the Vickers Viscount was introduced as the first commercial airliner to use turboprop power. AIRCRAFT. Dart production continued for more than fifty years. Sortable aircraft features include aircraft type, make and model, state and year. Print Email. © 2015 Hartzell Propeller. In cooperation with Aerospace Publications we are proud to present the largest and most detailed aircraft information database on the Internet. [2] Air is drawn into the intake and compressed by the compressor. Agricultural Implements; Engine Mfc Truck Mfc. The propelling nozzle provides a relatively small proportion of the thrust generated by a turboprop.[3]. Three were "high risk" involving engine malfunction and unplanned landing in single‑engine Cessna 208 Caravans, four "medium risk" and 96% "low risk". … [17][18], Propellers lose efficiency as aircraft speed increases, so turboprops are normally not used on high-speed aircraft[4][5][6] above 0.6–0.7 Mach. Turbine Agricultural Aircraft For Sale 1 - 15 of 15 Listings. Turboprop business aircraft include the Piper Meridian, Socata TBM, Pilatus PC-12, Piaggio P.180 Avanti, Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air. The rest is transmitted through the reduction gearing to the propeller. [21], The world's first turboprop was designed by the Hungarian mechanical engineer György Jendrassik. [citation needed] While the Soviet Union had the technology to create the airframe for a jet-powered strategic bomber comparable to Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress, they instead produced the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, powered with four Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprops, mated to eight contra-rotating propellers (two per nacelle) with supersonic tip speeds to achieve maximum cruise speeds in excess of 575 mph, faster than many of the first jet aircraft and comparable to jet cruising speeds for most missions. We’re taking a closer look at the origin of turboprop aircraft. Read More.