How to use a turboprop engine?

Question

I'm new to turboprops. I'm used to the good old manifold pressure, RPM, and mixture controls for engine management. I greatly enjoy Flight Sim 9 and Flight Sim X, but no one provides instructions on how to finesse turboprop engines. I fear it is woefully ignorant of me to just use the throttle lever and have the RPM on maximum speed and control the airspeed that way through all flight regimes.

Thanks for all your help in advance!

Answer 1

thats caled feathering and thats how you do it

Answer 2

There are several different setups for turboprop control. I am mostly familiar with single shaft constant speed turboprops. Specifically T56-A-14, P3 Orion’s @ C130's. In that configuration there is only one input, the power lever. It is linked mechanically to the Fuel Control and Prop Valve housing. There is a Low RPM setting were the FC (Fuel Control) limits RPM for ground fuel savings. In the Normal RPM mode the Prop is governing rpm. As the power lever is advanced fuel is added and the prop simply, reacts governing RPM to 100.0 +- .2.

Other setups could include a free turbine IE PT6 or Garret 331 where basicly is is similar to a controlable pitch prop were power is controled by N2 RPM and prop RPM is adjustable via the prop control input.

If you have 2 inputs it would simply be to put N2 to 100% and adjust prop to match the situation.

Answer 3

Since the engine shaft rpm is reduced with a gearbox in order to keep the prop tips from going supersonic, the flight speed of the aircraft is rather modest.  This is considered for the selection of such an engine for the aircraft.  Basically, the only control a pilot has over the engine is throttle and pitch.  So you are already doing it right!

Answer 4

Boy I dumped 1,000 hours of TJ Airline flying, so if I'm off, sorry.

I think we set the power and matched the RPM to it.  It was only on approach that we would go full forward on the prop to slow really fast.  It was like throwing barn doors out.  You had to be careful with airspeed or you descend like coke machine.

Oh, and they're really touchy to land.  I'm much more consistant on the Boeing 737.

Answer 5

Keep your torque at or below 100percent but also make sure your EGTs/or ITTs are not over the limit. When you cannot produce 100 percent torque without overtemping you then use temp as your power limit. This will happen as you climb. Just keep the RPM at max