Pilatus PC-12 NG

The single-engine turboprop built for versatility and global reach

Overview

Pilatus Switzerland 1994–Present $3.3 million

The Pilatus PC-12 NG is a single-engine turboprop aircraft designed for passenger, cargo, and special mission roles. Developed in Switzerland, it has become one of the most successful aircraft in its class. The NG variant introduced upgraded avionics and improved performance.

Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B
Engine type
Turboprop
Power
1,200 shp · 895 kW
Avionics
Honeywell Primus Apex Glass Cockpit
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
9
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
—
Tail height
—
Fuselage diameter
—
Wing span
—
Baggage volume
35 ft³  ·  1.0 m³
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
23,000 lb  ·  10,500 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
1,500 lb  ·  700 kg
Fuel capacity
Max cruise speed
270 kt  ·  311 mph  ·  500 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
—
Fuel burn
12.90 nm/gal  ·  6.31 km/L
Ceiling
—
Rate of climb
—
Takeoff distance
1,480 ft  ·  450 m
Landing distance
940 ft  ·  290 m
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Operational Context

Pilatus PC-12 NG — single-engine multirole turboprop

The PC-12 first flew in 1991 and entered service in 1994 as a versatile pressurized turboprop capable of operating from short and unpaved runways. The NG, or Next Generation, version was introduced in 2008 with enhanced cockpit systems and refinements to the airframe. It retained the basic layout of a low-wing monoplane with a large cargo door and retractable landing gear.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P turboprop engine producing approximately 1,200 shaft horsepower, the PC-12 NG cruises at around 280 knots (520 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight is about 10,450 pounds (4,740 kg). The aircraft can carry up to nine passengers in executive configuration and has a range of roughly 1,500 nautical miles (2,780 km) depending on payload.

The PC-12 NG has been widely adopted for corporate transport, air ambulance missions, and government surveillance work. Its combination of single-engine efficiency and cabin flexibility has made it a market leader. The aircraft remains a cornerstone of Pilatus’s global success.

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