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View Full Version : Pilatus PC-12 NG/ U-28A in USAF?

Happy Times
04-01-10, 11:29 AM
Maybe someone here knows?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilatus_PC-12

It is listed as being used in special operations?
What could that be?
Does that mean it is not used in an utility role?
August
04-01-10, 11:35 AM
It's smaller, faster and can fly higher than a C-130. It can be used as an air ambulance, insertions, aerial photography, and surveillance on a scale that matches the average Spec Ops teams it supports.
Weiss Pinguin
04-01-10, 11:38 AM
The Phoenix Police Department is listed under users. Seeing as how there's a high amount of drug related crime in that area maybe the police department uses it for related operations? Or possibly just other more 'regular' special roles.

Edit: Also, the description for the 319th Special Operations Squadron states that they use it to provide 'intra-theater support' for special ops units.
Happy Times
04-01-10, 11:43 AM
It's smaller, faster and can fly higher than a C-130. It can be used as an air ambulance, insertions, aerial photography, and surveillance on a scale that matches the average Spec Ops teams it supports.

Thanks August.:)

This one is also interesting.

PC-12M Spectre
Paramilitary special missions platform marketed in the United States, originally called "Eagle".

Im asking because the FAF is also getting these and you can bet that they are not only as liaison aircraft as listed.
They seem to be really useful platforms for our needs.:salute:
Torvald Von Mansee
04-01-10, 02:17 PM
Slightly off topic:

are there commercially available prop driven aircraft which have a range of 2500 miles or so? because that's the flight range required between L.A. and Hawaii, which I think is the longest flight you can make w/out any place to land if there's an emergency or you need fuel.

There must be SOME!!
Skybird
04-01-10, 04:25 PM
Pilatus planes - very good quality standard! :yeah: If I would need to buy myself a plane for bush flying, or in the mountains, Pilatus would be one of the first adresses I would check. The PC-6 is somehow a fetish for me.
OneToughHerring
04-01-10, 04:26 PM
Oh good. We can use those to...let me think...fly around with?
Happy Times
04-01-10, 05:41 PM
Oh good. We can use those to...let me think...fly around with?

Yeah, deep in Leningrad MD.