Since its certification back in 1994, the hallmark of the remarkably successful Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single has been its tremendous flexibility and utility — with a cabin full of passengers and cargo, it can go from a cozy dirt strip to the city lights a thousand miles distant, flying far above the terrain and much of the weather, and do so at very respectable speeds. Today, with the rising cost of fuel, the cost savings associated with having a single powerplant instead of two makes the airplane all the more desirable. Pilatus has more than 200 orders for the latest model, and used airplanes are typically going for 100 percent of their original price. To say that owners love this airplane is a huge understatement.
As with very few other airplanes, the Pilatus PC-12 has no real direct competition. A relatively fast, pressurized short/rough field, single-engine turboprop with a huge cabin, the airplane pretty much defines its own niche. The closest you can come is the Beech King Air B200, a great airplane, yes, but one that has two PT-6s instead of one.
