I was a mechanic in the first and only Air Force Turboprop Test Squadron, stationed at Kelly AFB, Texas, from 1955-1957. We flew around the clock, starting with two YC-131's. Then we got two YC-97's and two YC-121's. We also tested Pratt & Whitney T-34 engines. Over the next two years, they broke every speed record for prop driven aircrsft at that time. The Y designation was for unaccepted aircraft, yet to be proven. The outfit was disbanded in1957, and we were shipped to Dover AFB, to begin accepting the new C-133's, then the largest plane in the Air Force.

My grandfather swore by this engine....he said it never let him down an was on time every Time...👍👍 grandfather was part of S.A.C /jet air mechanic/load Master 21 year's 👍🏼👍🏼

Can one imagine the thoughts of the creators of this film, that it would get this many views in 2020.

Looks like this jet propulsion idea has a bright future in aviation...hope that C-130 turns out OK....

One big advantage of turboprops over piston engines was that they are vastly less noisy, resulting in a more comfortable flight experience for passengers on the plane. This was demonstrated with the Vickers Viscount, where the four Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines demonstrated how much quieter the plane was compared to similar piston-engined aircraft.

That narrator seems to have done the voice overs for every U.S. training and documentary film from the 40's to the 60's.

Great footage of the Convair B-36, the intercontinental bomber that was the "hybrid" of its day.

I started working for Allison‘s in 1994 As an inspector FPI MPI inspect about every part of the T56 engine and gearbox The good old days they outsource most of the work now I make single crystal turbine blades:-)

If I can't get to sleep, I'm going to listen to that guy's voice. I was dosing now just hearing it.

T56 - the most famous, reliable turbo prop combination ever. It is a shame that pure jet transports weren’t far behind; but the labours of Hercules and Orion military ships go on to this day. General Motors should never have sold off the Allison division. And I just love the sound of four of them going overhead, it is unique.

I would fly to Chicago as a young child once a year or so for a few years in a row with my television engineer father going to see the trade demonstrations of RCA studio television cameras and equipment. Each time both coming and going on a few different Convair 240 types. Sometimes it would be in a radial engine and sometimes on the way back it would be in a newly converted turboprop version. Years later I saw one after it had crashed at the local airport, it was broken and split in the fuselage, don't know that it might have been one I once flew in. My first airliner flights, an autumn delight.

NOTHING like the sound of four T56’s on the wing of a P3 or C130 making a low pass!

A few years after the Allison Turboliner was developed, local service airlines would convert the "Convair-Liners" in their fleets with the 501-D13, the commercial version of the T56, resulting in the Convair 580.

Another great division of General Motors sold

Outstanding!

The T56 lives to this day as the T56-427 in the E-2D. Hawkeye new builds

The specific fuel consumption numbers for the T-56 aren't bad, especially when you consider it's a 50 year old design. It would be interesting to see what kinda performance numbers the Convair 580 could put out with a pair of the newer Pratt & Whitney 100 series engines.

Too bad the Connie and turboprops together didn't fare better, that could have been an amazing airliner!

@ 2.06 -What happens to those beautiful models? Where are they now? Man I would give my eye teeth to own one of those. Gonna check out e-bay. Fingers crossed.

still work on them, -13 and D22. on wing turbine and RGB changes. they are swinging Aeroproducts and HAM standard. D13 TIT 971 4kHP, D22G 1049 4300HP

one of the greatest turbines produced. Super reliable and will take a beating.

If you want to see crazy turbo prop examples - look at the Fairey Gannet's Double Mamba engine.Twin turbines driving a contra rotating prop through a combo gearbox. One surviving example is near my house (and I wish they'd hanger it)

Very interesting.

Turboprops could have continued on in larger transport and cargo aircraft if they'd continued research on the open rotor concept, which was heavily studied in the 1980-90's. Although efficient, one of the apparent drawbacks was noise caused by propellor cavitation. With higher fuel efficiency in the newer HBR turbine designs, advanced turboprop research slacked off.

this video is perfect for when you're having trouble falling asleep....

And yes I do remember when America Airline aircrafts looked like this...

By the time this film was made turbo prop engines we not new. British manufacturers were producing them at the end of world war two and had a substantial lead in development of both turbo prop and pure jet engines.

What engine is best? for todays planes???

Geez, the turbine idea might catch on for other vehicles. They should use one in a tank or some such.

Modern piston ICE engines are far more fuel efficient than gas turbine and whilst requiring more regular maintenance... parts and labour costs are a fraction of cost. Commercial airlines recoup these costs with aircraft spending less down time in the workshop but makes little sense in GA unless you have a fatter wallet than most of us. A rebuild on a PT6 will buy you a nice apartment in most western cities.

The C-130 at 17:48 has three-bladed props. I only ever recall seeing those with four blades!?

Great stuff but the turboprop airliners didn't really last that long as the jet took over quickly. They may make a comeback. Who knows(?).

If only the didn't burn so much fuel... 20+ for a 200 hp ga engine

I would fly thru a hurricane on a Rolls Royce Dart powered aircraft,said no one ever.

I don't know, that C130 is too fat and ugly. I predict a short production run. ;)

Jet fuel weighs more than avgas.