Traded off our 2009 PC12 today for a brand new PC12. We got more trade in value than what we paid for it. Pilatus controls the supply of their machines so well that it really protects the value of our machines. They cut the North American allotment again for 2015 so I feel the new plane should follow suit in another couple years.

Congratulations on the new plane. This isn't the first story I have heard like this. Pilatus the company seems like a well run company for this reason and many others.

Re: new airplane, do you like the electric gear?

Congratulations!
Phenom 300 a bit like that.
Ours is now worth more than when we bought it.

Remember the old days when most all airplanes appreciated? Congratulations!

I remember in the nineties my grandfather had 4 different bonanzas; all of which he sold for more than he paid.

I've been saying this for a while. All airplanes are not in free fall losing value. Just the ones that don't offer enough utility for what it costs to run them.

Out of curiosity, why are you trading your 2009 PC12 for a new one?

As our 2009 was taxing away this morning I found myself asking the same question. It's a beautiful plane and I'm going to miss it.
Main reason was to reset the hour meter. We had 1700 hours on it and we are putting on 300 to 400 per year. With that type of usage I'd rather be under full warranty and included maintenance. Also Cash in the bank is worth next to 0 so might as well stick it in a new Pilatus.
The synthetic vision, LED lighting, and electric gear are nice gadgets also.

That's great. I haven't flown the electric gear yet but I understand it's "dead silent". If true, not sure how I feel about that..... Of course I'd take it.

My NG is a 2008 with 790 hours. Previous owner didn't like to fly it I guess? I bought it with 400 hours last year. I too fly 300-400 a year. I've upgraded it with everything buy SVS.

You know they have an extended warranty for about $16K a year. I've exercised my warranty a lot. Just got a new GPS2.

My next step is Phenom 300 or PC24. What's your mission? If you do the math, with the extra speed of the Phenom 300, operating expenses aren't much different, Just acquision cost.

You've heard correct on the electric gear. It doesn't seem right not hearing the gear swing.
We had the Honeywell extended warranty and never had to use it. It's a bit of an oxymoron saying I want a new plane to be under full warranty because our 2009 never gave us problems. An AOA vane and tires were about all we did to it besides inspections.
The PC12 is really perfect for our mission. We mostly bounce around Nebraska and the surrounding states. Arizona is the furthest we go. We looked at the jets hard and we just don't go far enough to make it efficient .

Did not appear as if they understood the market demand for their new PC-24 too well?

Love the PC-12. I find that with that amount of comfort the lack of a high cruise speed is less of an issue for passengers.

Yup. That's the bottom line.

The PC12 is hard to beat. It's about the most perfect airplane I can think of. I think they will do what TBM did soon though.... clean up the airframe and squeeze a few more knots out of it.

I think you are spot on.
The TBM cleanup is a lesson for other manufacturers.

My biggest fear is that an "upgraded" model will switch to Garmin. So much of the automation in the new TBM900 is because of Garmin. Honeywell does not innovate the way Garmin does.

The startup procedure alone in the new TBM900 is greatly improved because of Garmin. The Honeywell in my Pilatus boots up like an old Texas Instruments 486. It's really pathetic. I can't believe they'd use Honeywell for the new PC24. It's so dated.

Not sure what you mean Jason, G1000 as nothing to do with the startup of the turbine, there is no fadec or automation on a PT6.
The only automatic feature on the 900 is the starter disengage automatic after 30 seconds, wow. Some guys were too stupid to shutoff the starter I guess.

That's actually a great feature to have the starter disconnect after 30 seconds. I see lots of pilots leave the starter swithch up on in the King Air. Wonder why they can't get a generator online, then shut down only to wonder why the engine keeps motoring?