PC-12 Super Legacy’s seven-blade prop ‘completes package’

The recent certification of the MT47 ‘Silent 7 Propeller’ fitted to a demonstrator PC-12 aircraft from upgrade specialist Super Legacy XP “completes the package” of a business plane for post Covid-19 times, according to the company’s director Stephen Williams.

The additional blades of the Silent 7 deliver a significant uplift in performance, while reducing cabin noise, Williams told Corporate Jet Investor. “The Silent 7 Propeller is only part of a series of upgrades that makes the PC-12 Super Legacy particularly suitable for post-Covid times,” he said.

Williams highlighted five factors that he claims makes the Super Legacy particularly suited to modern business aviation. Those are the aircraft’s: improved performance, extra power, low operating costs and zero depreciation and Garmin avionics package.

Extra power

Combing the latest propeller from MT with the Super Legacy Speed Cowling is said to result in significant performance improvements in take-off roll, accelerate stop distance, rate-of-climb and cruise speed. Also, the seven-bladed prop coupled with the Skanda sound insulation delivers a six-decibel reduction in cabin noise.

“The unreliability of the airlines and the increased demand for aviation has focused attention on the PC-12’s point-to-point capabilities,” said Williams. “The PC-12 can get into smaller airports than you can’t get into with a Cessna Citation for example.” Fitted with the seven-bladed Silent 7, the Super Legacy is capable of a fully-loaded take-off of 400m (1,312 ft) off a hard runway, in zero wind at sea level.

Driving the improved performance, in addition to the seven-bladed prop, is an upgraded power plant from Finnoff Aviation that replaces the standard PT6A-67B engine. The new 67P power unit, warrantied for seven years by Pratt & Whitney, adds a further 200hp to a lighter weight airframe, he said. In addition, the Speed Cowling both improves airflow around the airframe and enables the engine to run more coolly.

Williams estimates the operating costs at about $600/hour, which he describes as “ about half the running costs of a comparable jet”.

The Garmin panel will also be familiar to many owner-operator pilots, according to the company.

Owner-operator pilots

“When coupled with a price tag for a finished aircraft almost $2m lower than the latest factory PC-12, and a much shorter waiting list, the Super Legacy offers a sensible choice for aircraft buyers seeking both performance and value” said Williams. “Our upgrade components also offer compelling options for existing PC-12 owners of all variants including the NG who want improved performance from their personal or corporate aircraft.”

Flight tests of the Super Legacy, equipped with the seven-bladed propeller, were conducted at some of Europe’s highest altitude airports. This included Samedan in Switzerland and Courchevel Altiport, where the Super Legacy pictured above is just about to touch down on the runway resembling a ski jump.

Based in London, Super Legacy XP Ltd is the European, Middle East and Africa distributor for the individual upgrade components, engine, propeller, speed cowl and Skandia cabin noise reduction system. The company says it is due to upgrade four PC-12 aircraft to Super Legacy standard for delivery to countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) delivery during 2021/2022. More than 50 upgraded PC-12s have been performed mainly in the US.

Meanwhile, the next edition of Corporate Jet Investor Quarterly will feature a detailed profile of the Pilatus PC-12 NGX model. Order your free copy of the journal – which also includes an in-depth profile of Kenn Ricci’s Directional Aviation – here.

Seven up: Stephen Williams alongside the seven-bladed propeller fitted to a demonstrator  Super Legacy.