Second PC-24 prototype flies

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Two Pilatus PC-24 jets

The second PC-24 prototype (P02) took off from Buochs Airport today at 10:06 a. m. on its maiden flight. The “Super Versatile Jet” with call sign HB-VXB flew across Central Switzerland for a total of 82 minutes.

P02 is the second PC-24 to join the test flight programme comprising a total of around 2,300 hours in the air.

After completing initial test flights in Switzerland, P02 will be deployed mainly in the USA and in Canada, where it will undergo various systems tests and certification flights in partnership with the systems suppliers.

Flights with the first prototype, the P01, have gone as planned thus far. The first prototype has completed a total of 143 hours in 87 flights since May.

“The PC-24 test flight programme is well underway and we are pleased with initial results.”

Oscar Schwenk, chairman of the board of directors said: “The PC-24 test flight programme is well underway and we are pleased with initial results. The PC-24 flies entirely as expected and we are confident of our ability to achieve, or even exceed, the guaranteed performance. We have identified some teething problems, of course, and that is entirely normal: the purpose of a prototype is to pinpoint areas requiring early attention in order to remedy them as soon as possible. And we take pride in testing to the limit so that we can deliver a Pilatus aircraft of uncompromising quality to our customers”.

ALSO READ: First Pilatus PC-24 makes maiden flight

Capable of flying in and out of very short runways and unmade strips, the PC-24 is the world’s first ever business jet to come equipped with a cargo door as standard.

Certification and delivery of the first series production aircraft to customers is planned from the third quarter of 2017.

Pilatus will be displaying a full scale model of the PC-24 at the NBAA in Las Vegas.

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