ACCESS: Top Secret
- Jan 22, 2006
- Reaction score
Found this drawings on a Spanish "popular science" magazine from 1985
Passenger preference probably also played a role. Airlines discovered that many passengers will select flights to avoid anything with propellers when regional jets were introduced. I'd guess that vibration was also an issue.1) Fuel costs went down
2) Noise was an issue
3) Reliability similar to turbofans would take a while to achieve
4) It didn't suit underwing mounting on existing designs which meant unique airframes needed designing
5) More efficient turbofans made enough improvement at lower risk.
Modern geared high bypass turbofans are getting closer to propfan territory.