ismael chang ghalimi

First Pilatus PC-12 NG Flight

Yesterday night, I got to fly on the brand new Pilatus PC-12 NG. I flew my first hour on PC-12 a year ago, but it was on a PC-12/47, equipped with more traditional instruments. The PC-12 Next Generation is fitted with Honeywell Primus Apex, a simplified version of the instrument panels found on the Boeing 777 and the Falcon 7X. Eliot and I flew N935NG from San Carlos (KSQL), and did three touch-and-go’s in Half Moon Bay (KHAF). I flew on the left seat, for a total of 45 minutes, which unfortunately could not be logged, for the chief pilot who was on the right seat was not a CFI. But quite frankly, I did not really care, for getting to fly this amazing aircraft was enough to make me plenty happy. I’m loving it…

It’s lovely, isn’t it? When I was FD for the company that runs the World Rally Championship, I got to know a guy from Switzerland who operated a few of these. We used to put one up for the entire Rally weekend and use it to bounce back the data signals from the onboard computers of the cars back to the service park for timing, safety, and telemetry. I never did get to fly one, although I do have time on Yak 52’s, Slingsby Firefly’s and R22’s amongst other types.

It’s absolutely awesome.

Just for kicks, I am planning a trip around the world on one…

Scheduled for 2012 or 2013.

-Ismael

Sawada-san,

We will make sure to spend some quality time in Tokyo.

We’re also planning to spend a couple of days at the Fuji National Park and Resort.

Best regards
 -Ismael

I got a PC-12 that I have been using for several expeditions. I would love to get in contact with companies who could us it for the monitoring of Rallys. Can anybody help?

-Morten