Any PC12NG guys here?

[sleddriver71]

From what I've seen from a buddy that flies multiple versions of KAs and several Pilatus versions, the PC-12 is about the most economical flying machine around. It basically does on ONE engine what the King Air does with two and you are burning about 50-60 gph in the low/mid flight levels.

I'm sure the NG has the -45 ailerons upgrade, not sure. You'll want that, as the older model flew like a dump truck. Newer servo tab version is much lighter on controls.

The NG does have the aileron upgrade. If the old model flew like a dump truck, the new one flies like an F350 dualie. It is still very slow in roll compared to, say, a King Air 90. I don't think it's that much of an improvement personally. I still like it though, it's just not as much fun to hand fly as it should be.

 

[Bleeds On]

Looking at your other thread with trip criteria, I understand your desire for a jet. Any chance you can charter each aircraft and let him do a trip in each? I'd think one trip from STL-SFO slogging through the WX would quickly move his thoughts away from anything with a prop. Also, what's his time worth?
With that said, our hangar has a mix of NG's and older PC12's. Although it does have about 400-500# more useful load, the NG doesn't seem to have much else to justify the premium. The avionics are way overkill, IMO.
It seems some are trying to pit old 200's against the new NG in terms of acquisition cost. If memory serves me correctly, a new 200 is $2M more than a NG(BCA mag). The PC12 also beats the 200 in nearly every category. The plane is real hard to beat when just comparing numbers. You might have to start attaching dollars to time, safety and ride comfort if you want a jet. I hear Netjets is dumping their Excel's cheap...

 

[100-1/2]

Out of Warranty, you will never get to $400/hr (particularly @ Pilatus Shop) and not everything is covered on your MFR Mx 'IN WARRANTY.' Ditto Acquisition vs Budget considerations as posted above, why grief over $120k annual ops budget after dropping a cool $4M. You need a good 10 to 15 years (heavy) ops budget to recover the acquisition cost tilt with KA. If your boss is after bonus depreciation on a heavy liability acquisition, then the more you spend on Ops, is a good thing for the balance sheet?

Stay away from NH and anyone else from Pilatus Corporate Marketing. If you are serious, Try Epps. They are not 'all about' Pilatus and their maintenance is fair to exceptional across a spectrum of Corp A/C.

BTW, you SEL Turbo's in the Mid-FL's are a huge-a55 (moving)speed-bump to those of us transitioning between Terminals and the High-FL's. Particularly within 100nm of a heavy volume C and B airport. After all the time and fuel you spent getting there, are you really saving any $$$ at FL240? With marginal payload lifts, you can't stay there more than 60 to 90 minutes?

100-1/2

 

[TimsKeeper]

PC12 beats the King Air in just about every category except the one that counts the most; Single Engine Failure.

 

[sleddriver71]

PC12 beats the King Air in just about every category except the one that counts the most; Single Engine Failure.

I fly the PC12NG and I like it a lot. Having said that, the King Air 200 outclimbs it and handles turbulance much better because of the considerably higher wing loading. Also the King Air has 20-30 kts higher Vmo which is very nice for descents. Cruise speeds are about the same as well as cabin space. I like the modern avionics and I don't understand why people think the Honeywells are overkill in the PC12NG. The mach meter is pointless for sure but it was already there so I guess they left it. Overall, it's a superior aircraft for EMS for my program anyway. The Honeywell avionics combined with too little computing power is still a little buggy but it gets better with each build.