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SatanLifeProTips t1_irpjcrb wrote

Turboprops work the same way. It is more efficient to take a shaft drive output out a jet engine than it is to shoot all the air through the jet engine. Running a prop or a ducted fan is the most efficient way to do it

The prop IS slightly more efficient than the ducted fan at lower speeds/altitude, that’s why you see them on lower speed aircraft that do regional flights like the (miserable to be inside) Dash 8.

But get up to cruising altitude and the ducted fan is king.

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Apotropaic_Sphinx t1_irppu1t wrote

Also you can reverse thrust on a turboprop. The C-130 can literary do a 3-point turn while taxiing.

High-bypass jets do have thrust reversers, but they're more for slowing down while landing.

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slater_just_slater t1_irq2mxh wrote

Another big issue is blade tips going supersonic. It makes it really really loud. The Tu-95 is ungodly loud because of this.

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