SimWorks Studios has recently released their rendition of the Pilatus PC-12 Legacy for Microsoft Flight Simulator, a single-engined turboprop aircraft first flown in the early 1990s and popular among corporate transport companies, government agencies, and air-ambulance operators.

Its development was announced in October 1989 at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and it had been under development for a few years prior under high levels of secrecy (they had commenced the prototype assembly by the time it was announced). It was believed to be the first single-engined aircraft capable of flying at high speed across long distances, a market that was unheard of back then. The prototype was completed in May 1991, and the first flight took off only 30 days later. 

While the original plans were for a mid-1991 certification, a wing redesign delayed progress by a few years, with the certification only being issued in March 1994 (Europe) and July 1994 (United States).

It has undergone multiple improvements over its production span, with more powerful engines, new avionics, noise reduction measures, new propellers, increased speed and range, and more. It was also modified by other aviation firms that added their enhancement packages.

The variant at hand was certified in 2005, and it's powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B engine, with a range of 1742 miles, a maximum take-off weight of 4,740 kg, and a cruise speed of 500 km/h. 

The add-on features an accurate simulation of the PC-12, developed with help from Pilatus Aircraft and Fly7 Executive Aviation, replicating the real aircraft's handling behavior with correct propeller beta and reverse operation, custom ITT simulation, and realistic flap deployment timings. It also includes various custom systems, ranging from a custom aileron-rudder interconnect system to usable circuit breakers, PMS GTN, TDS GTNXi, and Sky4Sim Tablet compatibility. The complete list of features follows below:

High quality model of the aircraft’s exterior with many custom animations:

• 4 and 5-bladed propeller
• Trailing link landing gear
• Nose wheel steering with free castering
• Engine bypass flap and springs (connecting to landing gear)
• Custom flap and actuator animations
• Trim tabs
• Animated de-icing boots
• Prop beta/reverse
• Propeller vortices
• Preflight: engine cowling, fuel filter compartment, tail compartment
• Horizontal stabilator trim
• Covers with strips reacting to wind speed, direction and inclined parking

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High quality cockpit interior modelling using detail textures to retain detail while reducing texture size. Numerous custom animations, including:

• Stick shaker & pusher
• Sun visors
• Sun shade
• Gust lock
• Armrests
• Movable lights and AC vents

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Three different cabin configurations with -again- many custom animations:

• Exits
• Window shades
• Tray tables (executive cabin)
• Seat armrests and tilting
• Toilet door, light, flushing  (executive cabin)
• Drawers -gravity affected  (executive cabin)
• Passengers & luggage (executive and commuter cabin)
• Cargo crates (cargo cabin)
• Operator-specific items
• Custom liveries from the fleets of Fly7 and Tradewind, including authentic interiors
• Two custom, SWS-created liveries
• White livery for repainters
• Flight Model

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The SWS team were flown in the PC-12 and then spent a week training in the PC-12 simulator at the Fly7 Training Center, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Being able to experience first-hand how the real aircraft handles, we strived to recreate it as closely as MSFS allows. Some highlights of the flight model include:

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• Engine torque effect on yaw.
• Correct handling response.
• Exceptional stability in inclement weather.
• Realistic flap deployment timings, lift and drag effects, including crosswind limitations.
• Nose down approach attitude, correctly reproduced down to flaps 30 (MSFS limitation at 40).
• Custom nose wheel steering with free-castering operation when differential brakes are used.
• Fast engine response to pilot input.
• Manual override control.
• Correct propeller beta and reverse operation.
• Custom ITT simulation including altitude limiting.

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Many custom systems were created to ensure an authentic experience, while also featuring the first fully custom avionics created by our team. Some of the custom systems modeled:

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• EFIS50
• Engine Instrument System
• Thommen DC20 Chronometer
• Aileron-rudder interconnect
• Custom yaw damper
• Stick shaker & pusher
• Environmental Control System
• Cabin Pressure Control System
• Compatibility with PMS50 and TDS GTN
• Full interior and exterior lighting
• Sounds

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The SWS PC-12 comes with a rich soundset, containing more than 2800 authentic sounds recorded from multiple real aircraft! The sounds feature:

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• Different sounds for 4 and 5-bladed propellers
• Authentic engine sounds
• Gear & flap actuators
• Aural warnings and avionic sounds
• Audible switches, levers, doors, windows - if it moves, it can be heard!
• Many ambient sounds

It's available on their store and Contrail for roughly $26.98, requiring at least 3.95 GB of free hard disk space to install.

Stay tuned to Threshold for more flight simulation news!