Pilatus Aircraft has delivered its 1,400th PC-12 and achieved a significant flight time milestone for the NG fleet. Just over a year after celebrating the delivery of its 1,300th PC-12, the Swiss manufacturer marked the delivery of the 1,400th aircraft. The new 2016 PC-12 NG, serial number 1612, was delivered to a customer in the southwestern United States.

An additional milestone was achieved by the fleet of 630 PC-12 NG (Next Generation) models, the latest version of the PC-12, which surpassed the 1 million flight hour mark since its introduction in 2008. The worldwide fleet of all PC-12 aircraft has accumulated more than 5.6 million total flight hours since certification.

Debuting at last year’s National Business Aviation Association conference and exhibition, the 2016 model PC-12 NG incorporates a number of significant enhancements, including a five-blade composite propeller, aerodynamic drag reduction features, a 285 knot cruise speed, avionics feature upgrades, and new interior and exterior design choices.

Despite the arrival of the new turbofan-powered PC-24, currently in flight testing, Ignaz Gretener, Vice President of Pilatus’ General Aviation business unit, notes that the PC-12 is still the “backbone” of the company’s general aviation business.