Pilatus PC-24 announced

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15 years 11 months

Posts: 268

Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk says the PC-24 is the only aircraft "combining the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium light jet, and the performance of a light jet".
He adds: "The aircraft simply doesn't fit into any of the existing business jet categories. That's why we had to create a new one."

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ebace-pilatus-joins-the-jet-set-with-pc-24-386152/

A broad comparison with similar-ish types gives:

Type: PC-24 Nextant-400XT Phenom-300 Cessna CJ4
Range: 1800nm 2005nm 1995nm 2008nm
Cruise: 425 kt 460kt 444kt 444kt
Cost: $9m $4.95m $8.14m $9.04

Is another new category of small/medium bizjet a good idea, in a market sector that had still not recovered from the slump in 2008? Or is this new sector of turboprop-strip capable small jet a winner?

Steven

Original post

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19 years 5 months

Posts: 9,823

It seems odd for a smaller manufacturer to enter the already crowded private jet market.

Member for

15 years 11 months

Posts: 268

The publicity material emphasises the emerging market angle. In particular, Africa is seen as the natural home for this aircraft, meeting the traditional rugged turboprop sector and feeding the increasing demand for business jet travel, as the African middle class prospers.

http://www.aerobuzz.fr/local/cache-vignettes/L490xH321/EBACE_PC-24_South-Africa-cf5b6.jpg

The large cargo door could be attractive in the existing Western sectors, too.

http://www.aerobuzz.fr/local/cache-vignettes/L490xH294/EBACE_PC24_fuselage-ad64d.jpg

http://www.aerobuzz.fr/spip.php?article3510

Steven

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18 years 4 months

Posts: 5,267

Hmmmm rugged landing gear, austere field capability and a large cargo door could make it attractive to the aeromed industry.