General Aviation

Pilatus PC-12

Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft

The Pilatus PC‑12 is a Swiss‑made, single‑engine turboprop that has been in production since 1991. It combines a pressurised cabin with a large aft cargo door, making it versatile for corporate, air‑ambulance, and government use.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
pilatus-pc-12
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
1,407
Example Registration
N100AF

Specifications

Wingspan
16.3 m / 53.4 ft
Length
14.4 m / 47.3 ft
Height
4.3 m / 14 ft
Max Speed
537 km/h / 334 mph
Cruise Speed
519 km/h / 322 mph
Range
3339 km / 2075 mi
Ceiling
9144 m / 30000 ft
First Flight
1991-05-31
Production Start
1994-01-01
Total Built
2000

Aircraft Overview

History

The PC‑12 was announced by Pilatus in 1989 and first flew on 31 May 1991. Swiss certification followed in March 1994, with FAA approval in July 1994. The aircraft has evolved through several upgrades, including the 2006 PC‑12NG, the 2019 PC‑12NGX, and the 2025 PC‑12 PRO. Production has expanded to Asia‑Pacific and India, and the 2,000th PC‑12 was delivered in May 2023.

Design

The PC‑12 is a single‑engine turboprop powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A‑67 series engine. It features a pressurised cabin that seats up to nine passengers, a large cargo door, and a rugged wing design with winglets for short‑field performance. The cockpit houses a Honeywell Primus Apex glass system, dual angle‑of‑attack sensors, and a split‑bus electrical system for redundancy.

Variants

Variants include the original PC‑12/41 and PC‑12/45, the upgraded PC‑12/47E (NG), the PC‑12NGX with a PT6E‑67XP engine, the PC‑12 PRO (PC‑12/47G), the PC‑12M Spectre for special missions, and the U‑28A Draco used by the U.S. Air Force.

Operations

The PC‑12 is used worldwide for corporate transport, fractional and regional airlines, air‑ambulance, and government agencies such as police and armed forces. It is popular in remote areas, notably by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia, and is also employed by the U.S. Air Force as the U‑28A Draco for ISR missions.

Notable Facts

  • The 2,000th PC‑12 was delivered in May 2023.
  • The first PC‑12 flight took place on 31 May 1991.
  • The PC‑12NG was introduced at the 2006 NBAA meeting.
  • The PC‑12 cabin can accommodate up to nine passengers.
  • The U‑28A Draco variant is used by the U.S. Air Force for ISR missions.

Variants

  • PC-12/47E- 827 registrations - Example N101L
  • PC-12/45- 386 registrations - Example N100YC
  • PC-12/47- 124 registrations - Example N100JA
  • PC-12/47G- 35 registrations - Example N100AF
  • PC-12- 34 registrations - Example N116SK
  • PC-12/47E NGX- 1 registrations - Example N30AB

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources