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Turboprop Aircraft Guide
All turboprops in Tailwinds compared: seats, range, lease cost, fuel burn, and per-seat economics. The cheapest way to fly short, thin routes.
Turboprops are the most misunderstood aircraft in Tailwinds. New players skip them because they look slow and small; experienced players quietly build entire profitable sub-networks on them. Below roughly 800 kilometres, nothing else in the game touches their trip costs — the fuel table below makes the point better than any argument.
Their weekly leases are the lowest in the game, which also makes them the lowest-risk way to experiment. A failed turboprop route costs you pocket change; a failed widebody route can cost you the company.
How to choose
The ATR 72 and Q400 are the modern workhorses — the ATR cheaper to run, the Q400 faster and better over longer regional sectors. Smaller 19–40 seat types unlock genuinely tiny markets (island hops, mountain fields, remote communities) that no jet can serve economically. Range is rarely the constraint; matching seats to a thin market is the whole art.
All 32 aircraft at a glance
Figures are the game's actual values. Fuel cost assumes the base fuel price of $1.20/litre — the live market price in your save drifts between roughly half and nearly double that, which is why fuel hedging matters.
| Aircraft | Seats | Range | Lease/wk | Price | Fuel/100km | Fuel/seat-km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britten-Norman Islander | 9 | 774 km | $4K | $2M | 25 L | 3.33¢ |
| Pilatus PC-12 NGX | 9 | 1,846 km | $9K | $5M | 31 L | 4.17¢ |
| Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX | 14 | 1,982 km | $5K | $3M | 34 L | 2.87¢ |
| Let L-410 Turbolet | 19 | 1,380 km | $14K | $8M | 44 L | 2.76¢ |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 19 | 2,776 km | $9K | $5M | 56 L | 3.55¢ |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter 400 | 19 | 1,705 km | $12K | $7M | 50 L | 3.16¢ |
| Dornier 228 | 19 | 1,110 km | $14K | $8M | 42 L | 2.65¢ |
| BAe Jetstream 31 | 19 | 1,260 km | $5K | $3M | 40 L | 2.53¢ |
| Cessna 408 SkyCourier | 19 | 1,660 km | $11K | $6M | 48 L | 3.03¢ |
| Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante | 21 | 1,900 km | $4K | $2M | 44 L | 2.51¢ |
| BAe Jetstream 41 | 29 | 1,433 km | $9K | $5M | 62 L | 2.57¢ |
| Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia | 30 | 1,750 km | $7K | $4M | 70 L | 2.80¢ |
| Douglas DC-3 | 32 | 2,400 km | $3K | $1.5M | 94 L | 3.52¢ |
| Dornier 328 | 33 | 1,850 km | $11K | $6M | 95 L | 3.45¢ |
| Saab 340A | 34 | 1,430 km | $9K | $5M | 66 L | 2.33¢ |
| Saab 340B | 37 | 1,560 km | $9K | $5M | 69 L | 2.25¢ |
| Short 360 | 39 | 1,178 km | $7K | $4M | 64 L | 1.97¢ |
| De Havilland Dash 8-100 | 40 | 1,890 km | $9K | $4M | 91 L | 2.72¢ |
| De Havilland Dash 8-200 | 40 | 2,084 km | $11K | $5M | 93 L | 2.78¢ |
| ATR 42-600 | 50 | 1,326 km | $35K | $20M | 89 L | 2.12¢ |
| CASA CN-235-300 | 51 | 4,355 km | $45K | $26M | 85 L | 2.01¢ |
| Fokker F27 Friendship | 52 | 1,900 km | $9K | $4M | 82 L | 1.89¢ |
| Antonov An-24 | 52 | 2,400 km | $8K | $4M | 132 L | 3.03¢ |
| De Havilland Dash 7 | 54 | 1,300 km | $11K | $5M | 143 L | 3.18¢ |
| Dash 8-300 | 56 | 1,558 km | $15K | $7M | 110 L | 2.36¢ |
| Convair 580 | 56 | 2,900 km | $7K | $3M | 110 L | 2.36¢ |
| Saab 2000 | 58 | 2,868 km | $13K | $7M | 98 L | 2.03¢ |
| Xian MA60 | 60 | 1,600 km | $24K | $14M | 105 L | 2.10¢ |
| Xian MA600 | 60 | 1,600 km | $28K | $16M | 102 L | 2.04¢ |
| ATR 72-600 | 78 | 1,528 km | $45K | $26M | 123 L | 1.89¢ |
| Dash 8 Q400 | 90 | 2,040 km | $38K | $22M | 137 L | 1.83¢ |
| Lockheed L-188 Electra | 104 | 3,500 km | $9K | $4M | 265 L | 3.05¢ |
Type-by-type notes
Britten-Norman Islander
Tiny island-hopper. Operates from grass strips and short runways.
Fuel efficiency: #28 of 32 in its class (3.33¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $389 per seat.
Pilatus PC-12 NGX
Premium Swiss single-engine turboprop. Excellent short-field performance.
Fuel efficiency: #32 of 32 in its class (4.17¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $944 per seat.
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX
Single-engine utility turboprop. Ideal for remote communities and island routes.
Fuel efficiency: #22 of 32 in its class (2.87¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $357 per seat.
Let L-410 Turbolet
Czech twin-turboprop. Workhorse of Eastern European and African regional aviation.
Fuel efficiency: #19 of 32 in its class (2.76¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $737 per seat.
Beechcraft 1900D
Reliable 19-seat commuter with stand-up cabin. Popular in the US regionals.
Fuel efficiency: #31 of 32 in its class (3.55¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $447 per seat.
DHC-6 Twin Otter 400
STOL legend. Operates from water, ice, grass, and gravel runways worldwide.
Fuel efficiency: #26 of 32 in its class (3.16¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $632 per seat.
Dornier 228
Rugged STOL commuter with a distinctive boxy fuselage — popular for island and bush work.
Fuel efficiency: #17 of 32 in its class (2.65¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $737 per seat.
BAe Jetstream 31
19-seat British commuter twin — a fixture of 1980s feeder networks.
Fuel efficiency: #15 of 32 in its class (2.53¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $263 per seat.
Cessna 408 SkyCourier
New high-wing utility twin — 19 passengers or LD3-friendly freight for feeder operators.
Fuel efficiency: #23 of 32 in its class (3.03¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $553 per seat.
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Embraer's first airliner — a no-frills 18-seat utility commuter twin.
Fuel efficiency: #14 of 32 in its class (2.51¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $190 per seat.
BAe Jetstream 41
Stretched Jetstream seating 29 — a step up into larger commuter markets.
Fuel efficiency: #16 of 32 in its class (2.57¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $293 per seat.
Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia
Sleek Brazilian 30-seat turboprop that built Embraer's regional reputation.
Fuel efficiency: #21 of 32 in its class (2.80¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $233 per seat.
Douglas DC-3
The aircraft that made air travel mainstream. A 1930s piston legend still flying today on bush and heritage routes.
Fuel efficiency: #30 of 32 in its class (3.52¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $94 per seat.
Dornier 328
Fast, quiet German regional turboprop with a wide stand-up cabin for its size.
Fuel efficiency: #29 of 32 in its class (3.45¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $318 per seat.
Saab 340A
Early-build Saab 340 — affordable 34-seat regional twin for thin routes.
Fuel efficiency: #11 of 32 in its class (2.33¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $250 per seat.
Saab 340B
Dependable Swedish regional. Widely used in North America and Scandinavia.
Fuel efficiency: #10 of 32 in its class (2.25¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $243 per seat.
Short 360
Boxy but effective 36-seater. Low acquisition cost for thin UK/Irish routes.
Fuel efficiency: #4 of 32 in its class (1.97¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $179 per seat.
De Havilland Dash 8-100
The original Dash 8 — STOL-capable 39-seat regional turboprop.
Fuel efficiency: #18 of 32 in its class (2.72¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $213 per seat.
De Havilland Dash 8-200
Higher-powered Dash 8-100 with better speed and hot-and-high performance.
Fuel efficiency: #20 of 32 in its class (2.78¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $263 per seat.
ATR 42-600
Small regional turboprop. Ideal for thin short-haul routes under 1,300 km.
Fuel efficiency: #9 of 32 in its class (2.12¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $690 per seat.
CASA CN-235-300
Spanish STOL transport with impressive range. Popular in military and civil roles.
Fuel efficiency: #5 of 32 in its class (2.01¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $882 per seat.
Fokker F27 Friendship
Best-selling European turboprop of its generation — reliable workhorse of regional fleets.
Fuel efficiency: #3 of 32 in its class (1.89¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $173 per seat.
Antonov An-24
Tough Soviet high-wing turboprop built to operate from gravel and ice strips.
Fuel efficiency: #24 of 32 in its class (3.03¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $154 per seat.
De Havilland Dash 7
Four-engine STOL airliner able to use very short city-centre and mountain strips.
Fuel efficiency: #27 of 32 in its class (3.18¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $194 per seat.
Dash 8-300
The classic Dash 8 in its most popular variant. Cheap, reliable, and widely supported. A workhorse of thin short-haul routes worldwide.
Fuel efficiency: #12 of 32 in its class (2.36¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $268 per seat.
Convair 580
Turboprop conversion of the Convair 340/440 piston twins — a durable regional hauler.
Fuel efficiency: #13 of 32 in its class (2.36¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — mid-pack on per-seat fuel efficiency. Weekly lease works out to $116 per seat.
Saab 2000
Fast 50-seat turboprop — nearly jet speed. Competes on thin short-haul routes.
Fuel efficiency: #6 of 32 in its class (2.03¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $224 per seat.
Xian MA60
Chinese 60-seat turboprop developed from the An-24 lineage for domestic regional routes.
Fuel efficiency: #8 of 32 in its class (2.10¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $400 per seat.
Xian MA600
Modernized MA60 with glass cockpit and updated systems.
Fuel efficiency: #7 of 32 in its class (2.04¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $458 per seat.
ATR 72-600
Workhorse turboprop. Excellent economics on short regional routes.
Fuel efficiency: #2 of 32 in its class (1.89¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $577 per seat.
Dash 8 Q400
Fast turboprop with longer range than ATR. Popular for inter-city routes.
Fuel efficiency: #1 of 32 in its class (1.83¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — among the most fuel-efficient per seat. Weekly lease works out to $422 per seat.
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Fast American four-engine turboprop; airframe later spawned the P-3 Orion.
Fuel efficiency: #25 of 32 in its class (3.05¢ per seat-km at base fuel price) — toward the thirstier end per seat. Weekly lease works out to $82 per seat.