Great Ozzie
Charter Member
From AOPA & Vectorsite.net:
The PC-12 has a cabin as large as a King Air 200 yet is powered by a single PT6 (specifically, a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B, that is 1,600-shp de-rated to 1,200 shp). Unlike a lot of other PT6 engines, the Pilatus' -67 has an automatic start sequence. One pushes the "start" half of the starter- generator switch and waits for the ITT to show a light-off. After the engine's compressor stabilizes at 46 percent, the starter automatically shuts down and the generator automatically comes on-line.The PT-6 can be considered relatively bulletproof, with an average catastrophic engine failure rate of one per 160,000 hours. Even if something should happen to the engine, the PC-12 has a glide ratio of 16:1 (At 18,000 feet AGL, this should translate to almost 50nm).
While the Caravan can be viewed as a utility truck with seats and the TBM 700 is a personal luxury hot rod, the Pilatus PC-12 is more like the proverbial Swiss Army knife. Various configurations include:
Corporate Commuter: Nine passenger seats
Executive: Custom executive transport, typically six passenger seats
Freighter: Max cargo load approximately 2200lbs.
"Combi": a mixed passenger-freight variant, with four passenger seats and 5.95 cubic meters (210 cubic feet) of cargo space
The PC-12 is in service with various military and paramilitary services as a utility aircraft, one of the best-known users being the US Air Force, which operates the type as the "U-28A". There is a more recent configuration added, known as the "PC-12 Spectre." Features include a retractable EO/IR turret under the rear fuselage, a digital video recorder and a military communications / datalink system.
Like all single-engine turboprops, the PC-12 stalls at 61 knots. It is certified for single-pilot IFR operations. The PC-12 has "amenities" such as color weather radar, engine fire detection, known icing certification, air conditioning and a backup generator.
It mixes well with terminal traffic: whether flying at a "Heavy" approach speed of 180kts or Bonanza speeds of 120kts. Final can be flown at 80kts. One owner found that... although the approach to the 2,300-foot, sea-level strip looked "kind of funky at first," he soon found that the airplane could stop by midfield with almost no braking.
(I am looking forward to the "Reverse Thrust/Gear Down/Flaps" approach
My PC-12 is wearing the RedBull - Sauber F1 Race colors by "Butch, via the kind folks at AussieX." Flying under Swiss Registry, HB-FOT was manufactured in 1995 and Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG is the current owner/operator.
The PC-12 has a cabin as large as a King Air 200 yet is powered by a single PT6 (specifically, a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B, that is 1,600-shp de-rated to 1,200 shp). Unlike a lot of other PT6 engines, the Pilatus' -67 has an automatic start sequence. One pushes the "start" half of the starter- generator switch and waits for the ITT to show a light-off. After the engine's compressor stabilizes at 46 percent, the starter automatically shuts down and the generator automatically comes on-line.The PT-6 can be considered relatively bulletproof, with an average catastrophic engine failure rate of one per 160,000 hours. Even if something should happen to the engine, the PC-12 has a glide ratio of 16:1 (At 18,000 feet AGL, this should translate to almost 50nm).
While the Caravan can be viewed as a utility truck with seats and the TBM 700 is a personal luxury hot rod, the Pilatus PC-12 is more like the proverbial Swiss Army knife. Various configurations include:
Corporate Commuter: Nine passenger seats
Executive: Custom executive transport, typically six passenger seats
Freighter: Max cargo load approximately 2200lbs.
"Combi": a mixed passenger-freight variant, with four passenger seats and 5.95 cubic meters (210 cubic feet) of cargo space
The PC-12 is in service with various military and paramilitary services as a utility aircraft, one of the best-known users being the US Air Force, which operates the type as the "U-28A". There is a more recent configuration added, known as the "PC-12 Spectre." Features include a retractable EO/IR turret under the rear fuselage, a digital video recorder and a military communications / datalink system.
Like all single-engine turboprops, the PC-12 stalls at 61 knots. It is certified for single-pilot IFR operations. The PC-12 has "amenities" such as color weather radar, engine fire detection, known icing certification, air conditioning and a backup generator.
It mixes well with terminal traffic: whether flying at a "Heavy" approach speed of 180kts or Bonanza speeds of 120kts. Final can be flown at 80kts. One owner found that... although the approach to the 2,300-foot, sea-level strip looked "kind of funky at first," he soon found that the airplane could stop by midfield with almost no braking.
(I am looking forward to the "Reverse Thrust/Gear Down/Flaps" approach
My PC-12 is wearing the RedBull - Sauber F1 Race colors by "Butch, via the kind folks at AussieX." Flying under Swiss Registry, HB-FOT was manufactured in 1995 and Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG is the current owner/operator.
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