Don’t let the advertisers lie to you—every design involves compromises. Attempting to optimize any one aspect of a vehicle means accepting less-than-optimal outcomes for other aspects. Ever since the Wrights, trying to come up with an airplane that does everything we’ll has driven more than a few aeronautical engineers around the bend or into other occupations.
That being said, there are a few airplanes that are true utility infielders—seemingly able to do anything needed by their operators. The Pilatus PC-12 is one of them. Back in 2007, when we first reviewed it, we were impressed by its wide spectrum of capabilities—and we think the upgrades, primarily power and the impressively capable Honeywell Apex flight deck, that led to the Next Generation (NG) designation (don’tcha just love marketing types facing creative block?) have made the aircraft even more able.