(Rick Durden) wrote in message om...
Thomas,

There are some smaller turboprops but the economics just aren't there
to put them into mass production. The market is quite small and the
specific fuel consumption of a turbine versus a piston means that if
you put it on your Cessna 210, for example, you can't carry enough
fuel to get anywhere and still put people in the cabin. Plus, the
simple cost of the technology and the metals to handle the heat in a
turbine engine makes it almost impossible to compete with other types
of engines in that horsepower range.

Actually there is a turboprop conversion for the P210 called the Silver Eagle.
(see http://www.onaircraft.com). The stats look pretty good to me. Cruising
speed of 215 kts and a range of 1030 nm with a full fuel payload of 735 pounds,
or a range of about 780 nm with a payload of 930 pounds (if you don't use the
aux tank added in the conversion). You can even use reverse thrust to back up.
Of course it doesn't come cheap though.