Flight1’s Pilatus PC12
Reviewed by Ludo Lambrechts
Since 1939 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has been specializing in the design and development of single-engine aircraft. Over many decades Pilatus has carved their name into the aviation world. Flight One Software has decided to include one of Pilatus’ aircraft in their product inventory. The Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine turboprop featuring an “aerodynamically advanced airframe” was the aircraft that Flight1 chose to recreate for Microsoft Games’ Flight Simulator 2004.
Just like Pilatus, Flight One Software also has a great name for quality. As the Pilatus PC-12 was released people asked themselves whether the same quality could be found in their recreation of the real “Swiss Army Knife.” I am writing this review to hopefully answer people’s questions about this aircraft.
The installation process with this aircraft isn’t very challenging, as it comes with an easy-to-use self installer. This aircraft comes ready to fly! As I was installing it though I was thinking about what I have read about the PC-12 before. Some things which I read about were its range of uses. It can be used from flying rich businessmen to flying cargo to an air ambulance. Just like the Beechcraft King Air this aircraft has a load of different uses.
The most important thing to most people about an add-on aircraft is an accurate 3D model. It is always difficult to create accurate to-scale aircraft but as past projects have proven to the whole simulation community Flight1 is very capable of tackling these challenges. As I started up the simulator and loaded the aircraft, I noticed a high level of detail and accurateness on this model. Everything from the long nose to the doors is detailed accurately. The passenger door opens very fluently and reveals stairs and the back exit opens with great animations as well, revealing the contents of the virtual cabin. The exterior model of the Pilatus PC-12 is done with great detail.
The interior of the Pilatus PC-12 by Flight1 will also be a very important factor in simulation enthusiast’s buying patterns. I have seen a lot of panel work in my time with FS2004, and I have learned what quality work is. The 2D panel was done very nicely by Flight1. Sadly no photorealistic texturing was used but the nice side of the PC-12 is that there included where custom gauges. The virtual cockpit is also has a lot of influence on simmers. Flight One Software has included with this package 4 different models which feature various different Virtual Cabins. The 4 different models are an executive, cargo, spectre, and a standard model. With these 4 variations you can do anything from flying the rich businessman to providing emergency medical care for ailing patients. As for the detail of the virtual cockpit, it has been detailed very accurately. But what I noticed that was missing from here where photorealistic textures, and extra eye candies. This was what caused the virtual cockpit of the PC-12 to look very plain and basic.
What a lot of simmers are interested in, is the experience of flying the aircraft. Many users will never have the chance to pilot one of these in real life, so the feeling of realism is very important. Flight One Software however has made this aircraft very realistic to fly. The flight dynamics have been done very realistically, and despite the challenges it is still a fun plane to fly. Along with the flight dynamics, comes another feature that makes it an ultra-realistic experience. This feature is that the warning callouts can be changed so that they’re in English, French, German, or Spanish. These features along with a great sound package that makes you feel as if you’re in the aircraft create a very realistic flight experience.
A flight simmer can not use an aircraft which will not run properly on his/her computer. It is challenging to fly an aircraft whenever there is lag, and this contributes to frustration and aircraft crashing. Flight One Software clearly took this into consideration when they started their PC-12 development. On my computer which can be called on of the high-end ones it runs great with no lag whatsoever, but with lower-end computers this aircraft will run with a lot of lag. But as I said Flight1 has taken this into consideration, and there are many options available to make this aircraft run lag free. These options are included in the PC-12 Configuration Manager; you can choose low-resolution gauges, no glass instruments or even no VC to improve frame rates.
As I have said in this review the 3D model is great, the VC is accurate, and the flight experience is very real. Along with the Configuration Manager, an easy to use and understandable tutorial this is an aircraft fit for anyone. From experienced pilots to new simmers everyone can learn to fly this aircraft and appreciate its features and quality. I would give Flight One Software 9 out of 10 for their work on the Pilatus PC-12.
Happy flying
Ludo
Flight1’s Pilatus PC12, My Review
[GK-customfield]FSX[customfield-GK] 
