Regional Turboprop (AT72-class)
A heavy regional turboprop: slow, stable and demanding on the approach.
The Regional Turboprop approximates the twin-engine airliner that connects small cities. It is high-winged, heavy and quiet in the cockpit, with a cruise well below a jet's but a lot of authority at low speed.
Because it is heavy, everything happens slowly: it takes time to start a turn, time to stop turning and time to stop on the runway. It teaches the planning that airline flying is about.
Key Numbers
- Role: regional turboprop
- Approximates: AT72
- Unlocks at: level 6
- Maximum takeoff mass: 22,800 kg
- Stall, landing configuration: 93 kt
- Stall, clean: 119 kt
- Flaps may be used below: 150 kt
- Normal operating limit: 228 kt
- Never exceed: 250 kt
- Rotate at about: 145 kt
- Approach at about: 120 kt
Speeds are indicated airspeed in knots as the simulator models them; the real type is only the thing this aircraft approximates.
How It Flies
- Plan every change two steps ahead: a turn, a descent or a speed change all lag.
- Keep the approach speed disciplined. Too slow and the sink rate grows quickly, too fast and you float down the runway.
- After touchdown, lower the nose and brake smoothly. Use the whole runway if you need it.
What To Practise
- Fly a regional hop between two airports 150 nautical miles apart and land with the right speed on the first try.
- Practise a stabilised final from 1,500 feet: fixed speed, fixed descent, no corrections below 500 feet.
- Use Minimize for a long leg with the radio on, then come back and land by hand.