The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators. The U.S. Air Force's designation is the U-28A.The Pilatus PC-12 NG has gained a reputation for outstanding versatility, performance, reliability and operational flexibility. As such, it is one of the most popular turbine-powered business aircraft on the market today. Over 1200 aircrafts have been sold.In operation around the globe, the PC-12 NG has found popularity in a number of roles– executive transport, cargo, air ambulance, airline, and government special mission applications.Whether it is the large cabin, single pilot operations, long range, low operating costs, high speed, short-field capability, or precision Swiss engineering and construction, customers find the perfect balance of features to serve their needs in the PC-12 NG.
History
The PC-12 is a King Air class and size turboprop aimed at corporate transport and regional airliner operators. It is the latest in a line of single engined PT6 powered
Pilatus products
Pilatus announced it was developing the PC-12 at the National Business Aircraft Association's annual convention in October 1989. First flight of the first of two prototypes occurred on May 31 1991. Certification was originally planned for mid 1993 but a redesign of the wings with the addition of winglets to ensure performance guarantees were met pushed this back, with Swiss certification awarded on March 30 1994 and US FAA FAR Part 23 approval following on July 15 1994.
Compared to the King Air 200 twin, its major competitor, the PC-12's most significant design feature is its use of a single PT6A-67B turboshaft. Internally the PC-12's cabin is also longer (by 6cm/2.4in) and wider (by 15cm/6in) than the King Air 200's, and the same height. The cockpit features EFIS displays and the PC-12 is certificated for single pilot operation while each PC-12 built features a standard cargo door in the rear fuselage. Weather radar is an option but has been fitted to all production aircraft thus far. From 1997 the increased 4.5 tonne MTOW has been standard. New, smaller winglets were introduced in 1998.
The PC-12 is offered in standard nine seat airliner form, in a four passenger seat/freight combi version and as a six place corporate transport. A pure freighter model is under consideration. The PC-12 Eagle is a military special missions platform.
Most PC-12s built thus far have been corporate transports but recent important regulatory changes in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA have cleared single engine turboprops for IFR RPT operations in those nations. This has opened up new potential markets for the PC12 as a regional airliner, replacing older King Airs and elderly piston twins such as the Navajo Chieftain and Cessna 400 series.
Design and development
Pilatus announced the development of the PC-12 at the annual convention of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) in October 1989.The two prototypes were completed on 1 May 1991, with the first flight taking place on May 31, 1991.Certification of the type was originally planned for mid-1991 but a redesign of the wings (increase of wing span and addition of winglets to ensure performance guarantees were met) delayed this. Swiss certification finally took place on 30 March 1994, and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approval followed on 15 July 1994.
As with many other Pilatus aircraft, the PC-12 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engine (the PT6A-67B). It is certified for single-pilot IFR operations, though operators may choose to utilize a second flight crew member. Pilatus offers the PC-12 in a standard nine-seat airliner form, in a four-passenger seat/freight Combi version, and as a six-seat corporate transport with an option for a seven-seat by adding a three-seat bench in place of seats five and six. A pure freighter model is under consideration.
The PC-12M (Multipurpose) is based on the PC-12, but equipped with a more powerful electrical generation system that enables addition of additional power-consuming equipment. This enables the PC-12M to perform missions such as flight inspection, air ambulance, parachutist dropping,[citation needed] aerial photography, and aerial surveillance. This version is marketed in the United States as the PC-12 Spectre paramilitary special missions platform.
Pilatus announced the PC-12NG (Next Generation) at the 2006 NBAA meeting in Orlando, and officially launched it during the NBAA 2007 in Atlanta.The NG features a more powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67P engine with better climb performance and an increase in maximum cruise speed to 280 kts TAS. The NG also features a Honeywell APEX glass cockpit. The revised cockpit includes automatic pressurization control as well as cursor controlled inputs to the navigation system.
The PC-12 NG winglets have also been modified from the original version.
Features
*A Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P engine, flat-rated at 1,200 SHP.A 330 cubic foot pressurized passenger cabin with seating for up to 9 passengers
*A maximum range of 1,560 nautical miles with 3 passengers, high speed cruise, NBAA IFR fuel reserve
*280 knot (322 mph) maximum cruise speed
*A high-lift wing for exceptional short-field performance
*Standard forward passenger door and large (53 in X 52 in) aft cargo door
*Retractable trailing-link landing gear capable of grass and unimproved field operation
*Certification for flight into known icing conditions
*State-of-the-art Honeywell Primus Apex avionics
*Single-pilot certification
Price:
The Pilatus PC-12 NG costs approximately $3.3 Million, which is 230% more expensive than the average for all Propeller Plane Jets & Prop Planes.
Seating:
This aircraft seats up to 9 passengers, which is the most of all Planes.
Range:
The Pilatus PC-12 NG can fly nonstop for up to 1,560 nautical mi, which is 652 nautical mi more than the average for all Propeller Plane Jets & Prop Planes. For reference:
NYC to Los Angeles - 2127 nautical miles
NYC to London - 3016 nautical miles
NYC to Tokyo - 5854 nautical miles
Cruise Speed (Long Range):
This aircraft can fly its maximum range while cruising at a speed of 271 knots, which is 27.2% faster than the average for all Propeller Plane Jets & Prop Planes.
Pilatus PC-12 Specifications:
PC-12 Dimensions
Length (m) 14.4
Wingspan (m) 16.2
Height (m) 4.3
Wing area (m2) 25.8
Weight
Maximum take-off weight (kg) 4500
Maximum landing weight (kg) 4500
Operating empty weight (kg) 2700
Maximum zero fuel weight (kg) 4100
Maximum payload (kg) 1400
Standard fuel capacity (litres) 1520
Performance
Range with max payload (km) 2500
Maximum speed (km/h) 500
Maximum operating altitude (m) 9100
Take-off field length (m) 700
Landing field length (m) 560
Engines P&WC PT6A-67B,
1 x 1600 hp
Cabin Data
Passengers (1-class) 9
Cabin width (m) 1.53
Regards
Monika Singh(B.Tech,ECE)
Software Trainee / Blog Master
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