Pilatus PC12
- CountrySwitzerland
- TypeUtility, regional airliner and corporate turboprop
- PowerplantsOne 895kW (1200shp) takeoff rated Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A67B turboprop driving a four blade constant speed Hartzell propeller.
- PerformanceMax cruising speed at 25,000ft 500km/h (270kt), economical cruising speed 430km/h (232kt). Initial rate of climb 1680ft/min. Max operating altitude 30,000ft. Max range at economical cruising speed with VFR reserves 4187km (2260nm). Range at max cruising speed with IFR reserves 2965km (1600nm).
- WeightsPC12 - Standard empty 2600kg (5732lb), max takeoff 4500kg (9920lb).
- DimentionsWing span 16.23m (52ft 3in), length 14.40m (47ft 3in), height 4.27m (14ft 0in). Wing area 25.8m2 (277.8sq ft).
- CapacityFlightcrew of one or two pilots (certificated for single pilot). Seating for nine in main cabin in regional airliner configuration. Corporate/executive transport configurations typically seat six in main cabin. Combi passenger/freight version seats four passengers in main cabin plus freight pallet.
- ProductionOver 280 PC-12s delivered by end of April.
The PC-12 is a King Air class and size turboprop went for corporate transport and territorial carrier administrators. It is the most recent in a line of single engined Pt6 controlled Pilatus items.
Pilatus affirmed it was creating the PC-12 at the National Business Aircraft Association's yearly tradition in October 1989. In the first place flight of the first of two models happened on May 31 1991. Accreditation was initially anticipated mid 1993 yet an update of the wings with the expansion of winglets to guarantee execution insurances were met pushed this once again, with Swiss confirmation granted on March 30 1994 and US FAA FAR Part 23 support after on July 15 1994.
Contrasted with the King Air 200 twin, its real rival, the PC-12's most huge outline peculiarity is its utilization of a solitary Pt6a-67b turboshaft. Inside the PC-12's lodge is additionally more (by 6cm/2.4in) and more extensive (by 15cm/6in) than the King Air 200's, and the same tallness. The cockpit characteristics EFIS shows and the PC-12 is certificated for single pilot operation while every PC-12 assembled peculiarities a standard load entryway in the back fuselage. Climate radar is an alternative however has been fitted to all creation airplane up to this point. From 1997 the expanded 4.5 ton MTOW has been standard. New, more diminutive winglets were presented in 1998.
The PC-12 is offered in standard nine seat aerial shuttle structure, in a four traveler seat/cargo combi adaptation and as a six spot corporate transport. An unadulterated tanker model is under thought. The PC-12 Eagle is a military unique missions stage.
Most PC-12s constructed so far have been corporate transports however late essential administrative changes in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA have cleared single motor turboprops for IFR RPT operations in those countries. This has opened up new potential markets for the Pc12 as a provincial carrier, supplanting more seasoned King Airs and elderly cylinder twins, for example, the Navajo Chieftain and Cessna 400 arrangement.
Pictures of Pilatus PC12
