The turboprop engine is a turbine engine that directly connects to a gearing system to turn a propeller, much like a traditional piston propeller engine. A turboprop engine still works on the principle of combusting fuel with air, but the incoming air is compressed before combustion, resulting in higher temperatures and much more power. These plane engine types also come standard with a gearbox that slows down its spinning prop shaft to drive the propeller properly.

Turboprop engines are highly fuel-efficient and rotate at a mid-range speed, generally ranging between 250 and 400 knots. With this type of aircraft engine, you'll find the most efficiency at mid-range altitudes. However, their gearing systems have been known to break down quickly because of their weight, which also plays into a more limited forward airspeed.