Airtest Pilatus PC-12 NG

Class Of Its Own

No other single-engined turboprop is capable of hauling such a heavy load (or nine passengers) or flying over 1,800nm – from a short, unprepared runway.

As the propeller blades slowed, feathered and stopped I couldn’t help but be impressed. I’ve done quite a lot of gliding over and around mountains, but never in an aircraft with a MTOW of 4,740kg! The Swiss have always had a reputation for quality engineering, and as Pilatus production test pilot Jan Schatteman and I walked around the gleaming PC-12 NG Icould see immediately that it was beautifully made.

Starting at the spinner, it is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A‑67P turboprop. This engine can produce up to 1,845shp (1,346kW), but is flat rated to 1,200shp (882kW). All the power is converted into thrust via a fourblade aluminium Hartzell prop, which is both fully feathering and reversible.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
Login
Become a Member
To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

or

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
PRINT
$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member
See benefits
  • Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
  • Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
PRINT + DIGITAL
$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member
$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member
See benefits
  • Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
  • Access to the Australian Aviation app
  • Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
  • Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
  • Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
  • Daily news updates via our email bulletin
DIGITAL
$5.99 Monthly Become a Member
$59.95 Annual Become a Member
See benefits
  • Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
  • Access to the Australian Aviation app
  • Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
  • Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
  • Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
  • Daily news updates via our email bulletin
You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member today!
Momentum Media Logo
Most Innovative Company
Copyright © 2007-2025 MOMENTUMMEDIA