PC-12 max cruise power true airspeeds?

[sleddriver71]

I'm wondering if I am flying one of the slowest PC-12/45's out there. Our airplane averages between 245 - 255 kts for max cruise speed. I'm just curious what cruise speeds the rest of you are getting in your PC-12's? I'm curious what the NG typically gets if anyone is flying one.

 

[SinglePliot135]

I think we usually get 265ish with the -45s. What altitude are you using?

 

[BushwickBill]

I'm wondering if I am flying one of the slowest PC-12/45's out there. Our airplane averages between 245 - 255 kts for max cruise speed. I'm just curious what cruise speeds the rest of you are getting in your PC-12's? I'm curious what the NG typically gets if anyone is flying one.

That is what I would typically see when I flew a -45 at higher altitudes. I don't fly the Pilatus anymore I miss the flying. It is a fun airplane.

 

[sleddriver71]

I think we usually get 265ish with the -45s. What altitude are you using?

The altitudes are anywhere from 16,000 to FL230. The TAS's are considerably below book numbers however I have noticed that the fuel flows are lower for a given power setting as well.

 

[Geronimo4497]

What temps are you using?

Where does your rudder trim line up in cruise?

At 16K you should be well into the 260 KTAS range. At 23K, 245 is about right.

How hot has the OAT been at cruise? The airplane is a dog in heavy and hot conditions.

 

[sleddriver71]

What temps are you using?

Where does your rudder trim line up in cruise?

At 16K you should be well into the 260 KTAS range. At 23K, 245 is about right.

How hot has the OAT been at cruise? The airplane is a dog in heavy and hot conditions.

I'll have to get back to you on the rudder trim and the OAT when I'm back on duty. As far as what temps I am using, I am assumming you're referring to ITT. I'm using the max cruise power chart which specifies a torque value, it's not based on temp. The max ITT for the PT6A-67B if I remember correctly is 760 degrees C. During flight, ITT is only a factor for cruise climb power settings. I use the usual 36.9 PSI until ITT limits and then use the max ITT ( I use 750). But in a cruise power setting, ITT is well below it's max when torque is set.
Another thing I have noticed is that the prop RPM never reaches 1700. When I take a trend it is usually about 1694 RPM. In spite of this, I am still using the specified torque setting so I'm not sure how much this affects cruise speed.

 

[xrated]

Are you retracting the landing gear? That may be your issue.

 

[chriskcmo]

What year PC-12? And how much time is on the engine? Sounds like your engine might be run out. We never ran hotter than 720 in cruise and always saw 260ish in the high teens, 240-250 in the low-mid 20's.

 

[sleddriver71]

What year PC-12? And how much time is on the engine? Sounds like your engine might be run out. We never ran hotter than 720 in cruise and always saw 260ish in the high teens, 240-250 in the low-mid 20's.

It's a 1999, the engine has just under 4000 hrs on it. I'm not sure what temps we're hitting during cruise, I'll check next time I fly. It seems to give about the same TAS whether I'm in the teens or in the flight levels, I rarely go above FL230, it's too much of a pig and our legs usually aren't long enough.

 

[sleddriver71]

Part of the reason it bothers me is that our worn out POS King Air E90 (early 70's) is only 5 to 10 kts slower.