I flew 473 hrs in the PC12 last year............but I skipped a lot of trips because I could not get above the weather........that's where the Jet is incredible practical

Exactly!

I was doing about 250 hours in my C340A and assumed in the 525 I'd be half of that, shooting for 150 hours.

Last calender year I was just short of 400 hours.

Andrew

Depends on the weather.

If there's a strong line of thunderstorms, a FL450 jet is far more likely to be able to go than a PC-12. That could save hours or even a day.

On a long trip into a headwind, the jet can save well over an hour. This comes not only from faster speed, but at FL450, the winds tend to die down somewhat.

Mike C.

Acording to fltplan.com on our typical flight today in our C550 from AKR to PBI is 900nm at FL360 our flight time 2:43 today with 13kt head wind and in a PC12 your time is 3:42 at FL280 so yes you do save hours even in a Citation add that up over the course of a year and for us we’ll gain 46 hours and over 5 years that’s 230 hours.

Gary

Sorry Gary. I’m calling bs. In fact, I guarantee you spend more time flying the C550 in a year then you would a Pilatus. After all, if what you say is true, everyone would be flying C550s.

My fltplan.com shows it as a 3:30 flight and burning 1700lbs in the Pilatus today at 9am. Are you flying Akron to PBI 46 times a year?

What I was showing was our typical flights and yes 90%+ of our flying is to West Palm and then onto San Salvador which we have been doing for last 20 years.

I find fltplan to be very accurate for flight planning as an example of Aspen to Akron today would be 3:11 flight, with 3340 lbs of fuel plus a 1000 lb reserve would leave us 2135 lbs for bodies and bags loping along at FL370 above all weather. We have a gross weight of 14700 and can carry 5000 lbs of fuel, empty weight 8,225.

Into PDK from ASE is even better at 2:51 flight needing 3045 lbs plus 1000 lb reserves leaves you 2430 lbs for bodies and you wouldn't have to be using your headset in the head.

My example of what we do saves us many hours every year but it's more about comfort and safety than it is about saving time, that's just an additional benefit.

No worries JC I am not saying that the PC12 is not a great plane it's just not for us.

Gary

If you're doing this 46 times a year you need to move.

Who is "our".

Like I said..... if what you say is true..... why isn't everyone flying C550's?

Some don't have jet money.

Some don't have jet skill/talent.

Some don't have jet mission.

Despite the number of PC-12s sold, there are WAY more Citations and CJs out there than PC-12s.

Mike C.

JC I figured three legs each round trip each saving an hour so for simple math, AKR to PBI then PBI to MYSM and back, then PBI to AKR. Each leg saving an hour, 15 trips a year or so is 45 hours in time savings. Using the PC12 vs C550 in fltplan is still an hour savings on each leg no matter what altitude you or I are flying at.

Gary

I can buy several C550's for the price of a used PC12. Don't bring other Citations into the mix as those have different numbers.

Flying right now:
56 PC12
0 C550
1 MU2

24 C56X is the most common flying Citation and that's 2 pilots etc. It drops like a cliff after that.

Like I said..... My Fltplan.com numbers are 3:30.... not 3:45.

I'll ask again....
who is "our"?
If what you say is true, how come there are so few C550's flying?

That said.... no doubt you have a highly unique mission. Are you a charter operation? I fly for myself. That factor alone changes things drastically.

The most important thing I learned in business many years ago is the use of we and us not me and I.

Gary

The most important thing I learned in business many years ago is the use of we and us not me and I.

Gary

No buddy the primary reason I own planes is to go fishing.

We fly ourselves, customers and friends.

Gary

Like I said.... sounds like Akron isn't for you.

Why not buy an airplane that can do Akron to San Salvador non stop?