Pilatus PC-12

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilatus_PC-12

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 United
States Air Force's designation is the U-28A. The PC-12 holds the distinction of
being the best-selling pressurized, single-engine, turbine-powered aircraft in
the world.

The PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop-powered business aircraft, designed for
performing in multiple roles and to deliver equal performance and safety to
twin-engine aircraft. It is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67 engine;
early models being powered by the PT6A-67B, while the later PC-12 NG variant
uses the more powerful PT6A-67P, which is flat-rated at only 70% of its maximum
power. According to Pilatus, the PC-12 NG has exceptional versatility and is
capable of operating within the most rugged environments, such as the Australian
outback; it is one of the few pressurized turbine-powered aircraft capable of
operating from rough landing strips. A trailing arm landing gear arrangement is
used to enable the PC-12 to access thousands of airfields that most jet aircraft
would be incapable of using.

The cabin interior of the PC-12 can accommodate up to nine passengers in a
comfortable configuration, which includes features such as a refreshment center,
a fully enclosed lavatory, and a baggage area to the rear of the cabin. Other
cabin configurations include executive arrangements, seating between six and
eight passengers, a four-seat passenger-cargo combi layout, and an air ambulance
setup housing two litters and three attending medics. The interior was designed
in conjunction with BMW's Designworks division, making extensive use of leather,
fine wood veneers and various textiles to create an environment deliberately
akin to a luxury road vehicle. An atypically large cargo door is installed to
accommodate more bulky items, including palletised cargo.


Role
Passenger and cargo aircraft

National origin
Switzerland

Manufacturer
Pilatus Aircraft

First flight
31 May 1991

Introduction
1994

Status
In production

Primary users
PlaneSense
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
United States Air Force

Produced
1991-present

Number built
1,400 (as of July 2016)

Unit cost

US$4.93 million (PC-12/47E, 2017)

Early sales of the PC-12 principally went to utility operators, reportedly
Pilatus were uncertain of the sales potential for the aircraft to business and
passenger operators early on. In 1994, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of
Australia became the launch customer of the PC-12. It operates 32 PC-12s
throughout Australia to deliver medical services in remote areas.

In 2006, Flying Magazine referred to the PC-12 as "...more economical to operate
than any turbine airplane of similar size." In 2007, Flying Magazine described
the high rate of value retention on used PC-12s as "unbelievable"—attributing
this to the popular demand for the type. High oil prices are a prominent sales
factor for turboprops, and the PC-12 among them.

The bulk of demand comes from North America and three quarters of PC-12NG sales
are in executive configurations. While its price grew from $3,270,760 in 2005 to
$4,713,275 in 2015, it retains 80-85% of its selling price after 10 years,
better than comparable turboprop or business jets and it sells 40% faster.

Specifications (PC-12NG)

General characteristics
Crew: one or two pilots
Capacity: 6 to 9 passengers seats
Payload: (Full fuel, pilot on board) Cargo : 704 kg (1602 lb)
9 Passengers : 623 kg (1423 lb)
6 Executive : 438 kg (1014 lb)

Length: 14.40 m (47 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 16.28 m (53 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.26 m (14 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 25.81 m² (277.8 ft²)
Aspect ratio: 10.27
Empty weight: with 1 pilot : Cargo : 2,810 kg (6,194 lb)
9 Passengers : 2,891 kg (6,373 lb)
6 Executive : 3,076 kg (6,782 lb)

Max. takeoff weight: 4,740 kg (10,500 lb)
Maximum landing weight: 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
Maximum zero fuel weight: 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)
Usable fuel: 2,704 lb (1,226 kg), 1,520 l (402 US gal)
Maximum payload: (pilot on board) Cargo : 1290 kg (2845 lb)
9 Passengers : 1209 kg (2666 lb)
6 Executive : 1024 kg (2257 lb)

Tail wingspan: 5.20 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propeller: 5 blade Hartzell Hartzell (Composite)
Propeller diameter: 2.67 m (8 ft 9 in)
Propeller RPM: 1,700 rpm
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P turboprop, 1,200 shp (895 kW)

Performance
Cruise speed: 528 km/h (285 kn)
Stall speed: 124 km/h (67 kn)
Range: 3,417 km (HSC, VFR Reserves) (1,845 nmi)
Service ceiling: 9,144 m (30,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 585 m/min (MTOW) (1,920 ft/min)
Wing loading: 183.6 kg/m² (37.8 lb/(sq ft))
Power/mass: 5.3 kg/kW (8.75 lb/hp)

Takeoff distance : 793 m (2,602 ft), 15 m / 50 ft obstacle
Landing distance : 661 m (2,170 ft), 15 m / 50 ft obstacle
Fuel consumption: 250 l (66.0 US gal) per hour (500 nmi trip, includes climb,
cruise and descent, 265 kn average block speed)

Avionics
Honeywell Primus Apex





*