why no DZO operates a Pilatus PC12?

[alberto1980 0]

It would seem like the perfect jump plane, single engine, T-tail, big CG envelope, big door. Why nobody operates it in the civil activity?

[godfrog 2]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward

[captain1976 0]

They are double the price of a new Pac 750, running 3 to 4 million

You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime

[howardwhite 6]

Because the big cargo door is structural, meaning it is an integral part of the airpfame and can't be removed for flight.

HW

[airtwardo 7]

Empuriabrava has one...or did a few months ago when I was there.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[howardwhite 6]

Here's a picture of a PC12 at Empuriabrava. Can't see the left side, but it doesn't look as if it's a jump plane.
I've talked to several PC-12 pilots over the years. Unless something has changed, it's not certified to fly with the cargo door removed.

HW

[Balu 1]

I did a factory tour in Stans, Switzerland, last year and got some first hand knowledge. They have a Skydive Conversion available, with the door sliding on rails inside the cabin towards the front. With this and all the aforementioned it would be a perfect jump plane, if only the $$$ weren't such a problem. 4 Million Euro is a lot, even if you have real quick turnarounds. A PC12 could load up to 16 skydivers for 3,5 lifts per hour.

1300 Sprünge, 100er Wingsuit Formation, viele nette Menschen kennengelernt, keine Unfälle. Schön war's!

[diablopilot 2]

And with that conversion, the door ends up being just about the size of a King Air door. For the price, there are better options.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[alberto1980 0]

Quote

Because the big cargo door is structural, meaning it is an integral part of the airpfame and can't be removed for flight.

HW

Howardwhite won this. This is the exact reason. Although there is a (now shelved) project at Pilatus for a jump plane version featuring a doubler reinforced door to allow it opening in flight and a fixed landing gear.