Design Comparison of Quiet M=0.80 STOL Transports

This paper deals with a comparison, on a common basis, between quiet, point design, turbofan, prop fan, and turboprop intercity STOL transports as a means of possible accelerating convergence toward a preferred system. Results indicate the high-speed turboprop aircraft is superior in terms of minimum gross weight, and, therefore superior in direct operating cost and ticket cost. It is probably also the safest of the three aircraft because of the greatest thrust margin and least thrust asymmetry during waveoff.