Posted April 24th, 2008 8:46 am by admin
Filed Under: Aviation
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Pilatus PC-12 airplane – Dynamic Features and Superior Performance
Pilatus PC-12 airplane is the one of the best and largest single-engine aircraft to rule the skies. Pilatus Aircraft AG is reputed in civilian as well as military markets for their futuristic designs, cutting-edge technology and precision engineering that offers high performance aircrafts. The PC-12 turboprop manufactured in Stans, Switzerland is the latest addition to the Pilatus family. Combining the best of single turboprop engine with an aerodynamically advanced airframe, PC-12 offers excellent performance. The versatile aircraft with superior reliability and outstanding economy comes with inherent safety features.
Brief Genesis of the Pilatus PC-12 airplane
The announcement of PC-12 was made for the first time at the annual convention of the National Business Aircraft Association in October 1989. Two prototypes of the aircraft were manufactured and the first flight took off on 31 May 1991. Although the certification of PC-12 was originally scheduled on mid-1991, however the model underwent a redesigning of the wings - addition of winglets and increasing the wing span, ensuring the performance guarantee. Finally, PC-12 received certification on 30 March 1994, which was followed by FAA approval on 15 July 1994.
The PC-12 aircraft was equipped with a powerful single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B turboprop engine. Although the PC-12 was certified for single-pilot IFR operations, it is competent enough to accommodate a second flight crew member. It is designed in a standard nine-seat airliner form; the four-passenger seat/freight combi version offers six-place corporate transport. However, speculations continued over a complete freighter model.
Pilatus’ PC-12 Eagle offers a multi-role special missions platform for versatile applications that includes use as regional airliner, executive transport, cargo or Combi-carrier or air ambulance. It encloses a variety of sensors below its fuselage. In 1996, a higher gross-weight option (4.5 tons) of Pilatus PC-12/45 was unveiled, which became its standard variant a year later.
Latest Version
At the 2007, National Business Aircraft Association meeting in Atlanta, Pilatus launched its next generation aircraft the PC-12 47/E. The new model comes with an advanced Pratt & Whitney PT6-67P engine that offers better climb performance, and it also offers a maximum cruise speed to 280kts TAS.
Moreover, it features a revised cockpit – the Honeywell APEX Glass Cockpit that encloses an automatic pressurization control, in addition to a navigation system controlled by cursor. It has also undergone up gradation in its engine and avionics. Most impressive of all, the interiors of the BC-12 were updated by BMW DesignWorks.
With excellent dimensions, loading and payload features, there can be no doubt about the performance of one size fits all machine - Pilatus PC-12 airplane.
2 comments:
Check out the PC-12 fractional, PlaneSense (planesense.aero)for fractional ownership of this versatile and comfortable aircraft. Very competitive program.
Fractional is o.k for some people.. However owning the whole aircraft beats it hands down if you fly just 300 hrs a year + you get to choose your own colors and interior etc. Even if you don't quite fly as much as 300 hrs you can easily put a PC-12 on a Part 135 charter certificate generating income to offset ownership cost. Either way the PC-12 is amazing and however you get in to one its the right choice.
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