Pilatus PC-24 takes off for it's maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
Pilatus PC-24 takes off for it's maiden flight. Pilatus Image.

Pilatus PC-24 completes maiden flight

May 12, 2015 1 Comment 130 Views

Swiss air framer Pilatus successfully carried out the maiden flight of it’s new business jet the PC-24 yesterday. Prototype P01, which bears the registration HB-VXA took off from the company’s headquarters at Buochs Airport in front of around 1800 Pilatus staff. The aircraft flew for 55 minutes before returning to the airport. The aircraft was flown by Pilatus test pilots Paul Mulcahy and Reto Aeschlimann.

The PC-24 is the world’s first business jet to be equipped with a cargo door as standard. It’s design will allow it to operate from very short and even unmade runways. It is powered by two Williams FJ44-4A turbofan engines.

Reto Aeschlimann, Test Pilot, Pilatus Aircraft

“Everything looks great so far! Beautiful handling – the PC-24 flies just as expected – a real Pilatus aircraft!”

Pilatus PC-24 preparing for it's maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
Pilatus PC-24 preparing for it’s maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
Pilatus PC-24 takes off for it's maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
Pilatus PC-24 takes off for it’s maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
Pilatus PC-24 takes off for it's maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
Pilatus PC-24 takes off for it’s maiden flight. Pilatus Image.
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 kept down for the duration of the flight. The PC-24 was accompanied by a PC-21 and monitored by twelve flight test engineers who kept an eye on a stream of real-time flight data received from the PC-24.

Three PC-24 prototypes will be used to complete a test program of some 2,300 hours over the next two years. Certification and initial deliveries are planned from 2017.

About Vedant Agarwal

A frequent flyer for both work and pleasure - Vedant has held elite status on many of the major alliances and airlines. Also an avid aviation photographer, his pictures have been published in and on the covers of many international publications.

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One comment

  1. Parimal
    June 15, 2015 at 21:36

    Somehow these small jets never appealed to me, including those like Gulfstream G650s. Way too small, wonder how people fly in this for hours together ?? No doubt seats are better than business class of commercial aircraft but he cabin is so small & narrow it feels as if you are dumped in there. Personally, I loved ACJ A32X & to some extent BBJ2.

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