The
new PC-24 Super Versatile Jet took off on its maiden flight Monday
from Buochs airport in Switzerland. Just under 1,800 Pilatus staff,
directly or indirectly involved in the project, were there to applaud
the business jet as it taxied for takeoff. Prototype P01, call sign
HB-VXA, flew across central Switzerland for a total of 55 minutes.
Officials from Pilatus Aircraft, the plane's manufacturer, said the
flight went exactly as planned with no problems whatsoever.
The
twin-engine business jet took off from runway 07 in just under 600
meters and climbed to 10,000 feet (approx. 3000 m) in around three
minutes, where the two pilots completed a series of meticulously
planned tests. The maiden flight followed a route across central
Switzerland – from Altdorf to Brünig via Engelberg.
Test
pilot Paul Mulcahy, who has some 11,000 hours under his belt, flew
the PC-24 as pilot in command.
Throughout
the flight the PC-24 was accompanied and monitored by a PC-21. As is
normal on maiden flights, the PC-24 landing gear was not retracted on
this occasion. Twelve flight test engineers watched the flight from
the ground as they kept an eye on a stream of real-time flight data
received from the PC-24.
Challenging
test flight program
A
total of three PC-24 prototypes will be built and used to complete a
rigorous test program of some 2,300 hours over the next two years.
Fewer than half those hours will actually be flown in Switzerland,
the remainder will be flown elsewhere. Certification and initial
deliveries of the first aircraft to come off the production line are
planned from 2017.
Pilatus
sold 84 PC-24's in the space of just 36 hours at last year's European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in May.
The
PC-24 is the world's first business jet to be equipped with a cargo
door as standard, with takeoff and landing performance that allows
the use of very short and even unmade runways. The jet also boasts a
spacious cabin with an interior which can be customized to
accommodate individual customer needs.
4 comments:
What a perfect aircraft foe illegal drug deliveries.
My thoughts exactly
The Australian Royal Flying Doctor service has the first 4 will be a great asset
84 in first order...4 to Australia outback and that leaves 80 sold to the Cartels!..Why didn't Cessna put cargo doors in he Citation way back when?...Justing saying!
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