GIANT SCALE T-27 Tucano Turboprop [4K]

Interesting fact I wasn't aware of is that there is no physical connection (i.e. no shaft) from the engine to the prop. The efflux from the turbine exhaust spins an impeller connected to the prop. Very efficient apparently and results in up to 50lbs of thrust just from a 60 size engine. Also sounds amazing.

Zero compression! None what so ever. You could hold the prop while it starts and it wouldn't move...although would burn the compressor nicely (so the owner told me).

Its a free shaft turbo prop or turboshaft for short.

Very neat but strictly not to scale as the RAF Tucano used the Garrett TPE331 which is a true turboprop i.e. the prop is connected directly to the turbine.

So is the turboshaft setup used in any full size aircraft?

Dominic
Actually original Embraer Tucano does use a turbo shaft, the P&W PT6, but not the RAF version that was built by Shorts.
The PT6 is very widely used in many 'bigger' light aircraft.
Virtually all helicopters use a turbo shaft. You would never get the turbine up to self sustain speed if the starter motor had to drive the rotors as well.

Here's another flight I caught. Very late afternoon. Almost dusk. But showed off the light system to maximum affect.