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Pilatus in a Whole New Light

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author discovers the Pilatus PC-12's exceptional performance and rugged capabilities when flying it through the challenging Swiss Alps, revealing it to be much more than a typical executive turboprop.
  • The article highlights how Switzerland's unique mountainous geography, defensive history, and status as the country's sole aircraft manufacturer fundamentally shaped Pilatus's designs, particularly the PC-12, for demanding terrain.
  • Through this immersive experience, the author gains a deep appreciation for the PC-12's "Swiss to the core" nature, understanding its design as intrinsically linked to its challenging homeland and likening it to a "mountain climber with wings."
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“We’ll just cut through the Gotthard Pass, there, and head down to Locarno on the other side,” Theddy says.

I look ahead. All I see is a flat, towering wall of mountain, every bit as steep and high as the dramatic, jagged slopes edging the narrow valley we’re navigating our way through at the moment.

FLYING Staff

FLYING Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.

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