This was the plane I took to go from NY to Roanoke, VA and back for the Hokie Memorial Chess Tournament. I have not flown in a prop. plane in a looooooooong time. I did not even know that commercial airlines stil use them. It was quite an experience 🙂
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
If you though that was anachronistic, you should look at our internet broadband penetration rates. Darn it, if I want to end up on a prop plane, it had better be because I want to – not because I have to.
America, not the land you thought it was.
Actually these modern planes with propellers are NOT the same as the piston engine prop airliners of th 1930-1950’s – DC-3, Constellation, etc. This model and nearly all regularly scheduled propeller airliners are actually turbo-props. This means that there is actually a jet style turbine engine and NOT a piston engine turning the propeller. These modern airliners are fuel efficient compared to the old piston aircraft and actually quite safe despite the unfounded fears and worries of many people. The reason the flight can be bumpier relates to the altitude and the smaller mass of the plane.
Hope that helps!
I used to take puddle jumpers like this when I was in graduate school in Pullman, Washington.