A turboprop
Engine is a jet engine attached to a propeller.
The turbine at the back is turned by
the hot gases, and this turns a shaft that drives the propeller.
Some small airliners and transport aircraft are powered by turboprops.
Like the turbojet, the
turboprop engine consists of a compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine, the
air and gas pressure is used to run the turbine, which then creates power to
drive the compressor.
Compared with a turbojet engine, the turboprop has better
propulsion efficiency at flight speeds below about 500 miles per hour.
Modern
turboprop engines are equipped with propellers that have a smaller diameter but
a larger number of blades for efficient operation at much higher flight speeds.
To accommodate the higher flight speeds, the blades are scimitar-shaped with
swept-back leading edges at the blade tips.
Engines featuring such propellers are called PropFans.
