Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


Pilatus PC-24 first prototype landing at Stans, 2015
Role	Light business jet
National origin	Switzerland
Manufacturer	Pilatus Aircraft
First flight	11 May 2015
Introduction	1 April 2018
Status	In production
Primary users	Swiss Air Force PlaneSense Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
Produced	2015–present
Number built	212 (Q1 2024)

The Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Following the success of the PC-12 single engine turboprop, work on the twin engine jet began in 2007 for greater range and speed, keeping the rugged airfield capability. The aircraft was introduced on 21 May 2013 and rolled out on 1 August 2014, with the maiden flight on 11 May 2015. The PC-24 received EASA and FAA type certification on 7 December 2017 and the first customer delivery was on 7 February 2018. Powered by two Williams FJ44 turbofans, it competes with the Embraer Phenom 300 and the Cessna Citation CJ4.

Development

During the 1990s, Pilatus Aircraft had brought to market the Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine turboprop-powered business aircraft. As the PC-12 quickly proved to be a commercial success, Pilatus sought to follow up with a complementary aircraft and began gathering feedback from customers of the type. In response to this request, several customers reportedly expressed a desire for an aircraft that would possess both a greater range and top speed than the existing PC-12, while retaining the type's overall ruggedness and ability to make use of very short runways.^[3] Based on this feedback, Pilatus elected to pursue development of such an aircraft. In 2007, Pilatus initiated work on the program.^[4] Development of the aircraft was conducted using existing company funds.^[3] The design program was first mentioned by Pilatus in its May 2011 annual report.

Design

The PC-24 is the company's first jet-powered aircraft. Several competing business aircraft were identified early on, including Embraer's Phenom 300 and Cessna's Citation CJ4.

It is a low-wing cantilever cabin monoplane powered by two Williams FJ44-4A turbofans, each mounted in a nacelle on the side of the rear fuselage. It has a T-tail and a retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft is designed to operate from short and rough airstrips and incorporates an advanced wing design, with a large double-slotted flap system to achieve the necessary performance, having a stall speed of only 81 knots at the maximum landing weight. The long-stroke trailing link landing gear smooths out uneven surfaces, the dual-wheel main wheels have 70 psi (4.8 bar) of pressure to prevent sinking in soft surfaces, and the wing flaps have a replaceable, abradable surface and shields the high mounted engines from loose

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet

General Info

Crew: one or two
Capacity: 10 passengers
Length: 16.85 m (55 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 17.0 m (55 ft 9 in)
Height: 5.4 m (17 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 30.91 m² (332.6 sq ft)

Powerplant

Max payload: 1,406 kg (3,100 lb) Cabin: 7.01 m × 1.69 m × 1.55 m long × wide × high ( 23 ft 0 in × 5 ft 7 in × 5 ft 1 in) Cabin altitude: 2,438 m at 13,716 m (8,000 ft at 45,000 ft),(0.605 bar) Powerplant: 2 × Williams FJ44-4A turbofans, 15 kN (3,400 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Cruise speed: 815 km/h
Stall speed: 154 km/h (96 mph, 83 kn)
Range: 3,704 km (2,302 mi, 2,000 nmi) , 6 passengers (1,200 lb payload)
Ferry range: 3,931 km (2,443 mi, 2,123 nmi) , 1 pilot
Service ceiling: 13,716 m , single engine ceiling 7,925 m
Rate of climb: 20.10 m/s (3,960 ft/min) at Sea level, 1,850 fpm / 9.4 m/s at FL 300
Time to altitude: FL 450 in 27 minutes

Aircraft of comparable role

Special Links Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet

Links to Youtube & Others

The aircraft is popular with air charter companies and is also operated by private companies. By January 2021, the fleet of 100 jets has logged 33,500 flight hours, including 2,375 hours by the fleet leader

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-24 Jet

Pilatus and Honeywell cooperatively designed the Advanced Cockpit Environment for the type.

Youtube Link

The interior colour schemes of the PC-24 have been designed by BMW Designworks; interiors for the Americas are to be completed at a facility in Broomfield, Colorado, which will be expanded by 50% to cope with the extra demand

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet