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Oriens Aviation, the British Isles sales
distributor of the Pilatus PC-12 is delighted to confirm the sale of a new
PC-12NG, newly registered G-NBCA, to a private customer.
Handing over the keys coinciding with the
annual Festival of Speed at Goodwood, West Sussex on 30th June, CEO
Edwin Brenninkmeyer
commented: “The Oriens team are especially proud to be making this formal
acceptance at this terrific aerodrome in Goodwood, because it completely fits
with the customer’s wish to fly into the smaller, more convenient airfields,
closer to one’s point of departure and destination than the larger, paved, jet
airfields.”
He thanked Guernsey, Channel Islands based
Ocean Skies for arranging the paperwork and customs clearance and the UK Civil
Aviation Authority for their swift support regarding the G-registration work.
Happily accepting the aircraft,
Neil Armstrong,
entrepreneur owner of Armstrong Group Holdings, acknowledged he had conducted a
lot of due diligence on other aircraft types and took several demo flights
before determining the PC-12 as best for his business and leisure needs.
“It was the only one that ticked all the
boxes. It is versatile, robust and can land on grass, gravel and even snow. It
is impressively economic, with £150 fuel costs and has excellent avionics. The
low depreciation rate was a major factor too.”
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The Armstrong family with their new Pilatus
PC-12NG |
The aircraft will be based at Leeds Bradford,
near to the family’s home in North Yorkshire. Neil Armstrong anticipates he will
fly up to 200 hours a year for his business interests - in housing, oil and gas
and utilities, and for leisure. He has interests in Jersey, the west of Ireland
and Mallorca, which all suit the PC-12’s flying range.
“Time is of the essence in my business. If you
are marching, you’re not fighting,” so this great aircraft is going to be a
productive tool for the business, and it will provide us with some great family
occasions too,” he said.
Neil’s two sons (10 and 12) and his wife Brid,
who helped influence the very stylish interior, featuring white, grey and blue
hues, are all looking forward to flying in the aircraft. They were all at
Goodwood to enjoy the motor racing displays and participate at the delivery and
flew the aircraft home on Sunday.
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The Oriens team with Neil Armstrong |
As well as ratifying the sale on behalf of
Pilatus, Oriens helped in the recruitment of pilots for the aircraft. “We expect
to use two pilots on the longer flights,” Neil confirmed. Thanking the Oriens
PC-12 team for all their hard work, he added: “I’d like to say a special thanks
to Graham Ball, Oriens’ chief pilot, who has been terrific throughout this
process and been the ultimate professional.”
Goodwood Aerodrome, part of the Goodwood
Estate, is a firm proponent of the PC-12 and is investing in a dedicated service
facility for line support. Its new 1,295m runway is due to open imminently
following investment in a smart handling facility and dedicated crew room,
housed along the flying school.
Both of the Aerodrome’s prominent runways have
been completely regraded with an extensive drainage system to support year-round
utilisation. The new Aerodrome building represents a significant investment and
will be used as a base for club members, visiting pilots, the public and the
Goodwood Flying School.
| The Pilatus PC-12 can fly up to eight
passengers in a luxury pressurized cabin, for up to 1,800 miles, at 320 mph and
at 30,000 feet. The PC-12 features a generous cargo door and can operate from
small airfields of 700 m, from gravel strips and grass, combining to make it one
of the most versatile and practical aircraft. It can carry more payload than
most for half the money.
With a price tag of US4.95 million, it can be
a business aircraft / an air ambulance (able to convert inside an hour) a cargo
aircraft and everything in between.
The aircraft has operated in the Arctic
Circle, the African Plains and is a regular stable with Australia’s time crucial
Flying Doctors. Its reputable single engine P&WC PT6 turbine is a legendary
workhorse. |
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