Why does the C-130 military transport plane use propellers instead of jet engines?
In: Engineering
Sometimes you happen on a design that is so perfectly suited to your need there is no real reason to change it. Most of the missions that the -130 operates can be done by the C-17. The C-130 is cheaper to purchase, operate, and maintain.
Turboprops are very durable engines, so are basically all airlifters, but turboprops have one major advantage, they are far less likely to suck up foreign objects since you aren’t relying on vacuuming tonnes of air from the front of the plane to the back to operate. You only need enough air to power the turbine reaction which turns the prop. So, if your mission is to fly from cruddy airstrips and you have no need for high altitude high speed, props are more efficient and more durable.
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