Page 10 - April 2015 Volume19 Number 4

The Mby Todd HotesPilatusajesticThe Pilatus PC-12 is a majestic- looking airplane, standing 14-feet tall with a 53-foot wingspan. Its footprint rivals that of a small to mid size jet, but it’s not. It’s a single-engine pressurized turboprop. The latest version, the PC-12/47E, also known as the NG (Next Generation), was introduced in 2008. Yes, its price tag may approach that of a small jet. However, this is where the similarities end. In the case of the NG, the profit is in the purchase.Described as the high-performance sport utility vehicle of the sky, the PC-12NG provides a high ratio of cost to performance. Boasting 330 cubic feet of cabin space, a 4'5" x 4'4" cargo door, and an increased maximum takeoff weight of 10,450 lbs (compared to 9,920 lbs in the previous model), the PC-12NG, and all of its predecessor upgrades, delivers the ability to carry a heavy8 • TWIN & TURBINEpayload across a vast expense of earth, at a reasonable speed. Dependable, efficient, and eloquent are just a few adjectives that describe the NG. Propelled by the large, dependable Pratt and Whitney PT6A- 67P engine, and with a glide ratio ofalmost 2.4 nm per thousand feet AGL, the fear of an aircraft having only one engine quickly subsides. With intelligent piloting, combined with the reliability of the engine, the PC-12NG is as safe (arguably safer) as any aircraft of its size.APRIL 2015