Pilatus introduces “New PC-24” with help from Lufthansa Technik

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has introduced an upgraded model of its PC-24 that it is marketing with the New PC-24 name. While not the most inventive name for a new model, it does reflect that the changes to the existing PC-24 airframe were significant.

Pilatus has extended the payload-range capability of the new PC-24 to achieve a maximum 6-passenger range of 2,000 nautical miles and an array of new interior amenities and configurations. A video from Pilatus can be found here.

Bruno Cervia, Vice President of Engineering for Pilatus, explained: “The payload increase was achieved by refining both wing and fuselage structural elements to reduce the airframe empty weight while simultaneously increasing the maximum gross take-off weight limit. It’s simply Swiss engineering at its best.”

The changes were extensive enough to require flight testing, and Pilatus engineers conducted an extensive flight test campaign to expand the entire envelope for the higher design weights. At the PC-24’s maximum take-off weight, the balanced field length at sea level is only 3,090 feet (941 meters), allowing the use of very short and even unpaved runways

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