An Irish Customer Takes Delivery of a new PC-12 NG
Businessman Neil Armstrong has opted for a new PC-12 NG. He took delivery in a special setting on 1 July of this year, and has been enjoying the many advantages of his new PC-12 NG ever since. Pilatus Aircraft Ltd
Neil Armstrong is a busy man. For many years he has been CEO and Chairman of Fastflow, a leading UK-based water pipe maintenance company. Today, he is an entrepreneur owner of Armstrong Group Holdings, a private equity company. Time is a precious commodity for Neil Armstrong. In the past he has chartered a variety of aircraft, but finally decided it was time to purchase his own aircraft to make his regular trips between Jersey, the west of Ireland and Mallorca. In October 2016, at his first meeting with Oriens Aviation, our Authorised Pilatus Centre for the UK and Ireland, he was still undecided and had many open questions. After careful investigation of different aircraft types and several demonstration flights, he concluded that the PC-12 NG was the best choice. “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 and has excellent avionics. The low depreciation rate was a major factor, too.”
Aircraft Specification in the new Showroom
With his mind made up, Neil and his wife came to Stans in February of this year. He was the first customer to complete the specification for the aircraft interior and exterior at the new Pilatus showroom at the headquarters. During winter 16/17, Pilatus finished converting ex-office space on the second floor of the hall 9 into a welcoming customer area. The facility includes a spacious showroom where PC-12 and PC-24 customers may view a large number of samples of the different materials that can be selected for the aircraft interior: seat leathers, wood veneers, metal components, panels. The room is equipped with a special lighting concept so that material can be shown in artificial light or simulated natural light. In a second step, the customer defines the exterior livery in consultation with one of our designers. In Neil’s case, the result was a dynamic scheme with blue and grey stripes – and a special Irish touch: a shamrock on the empennage!
Delivery in Goodwood
After completion of Neil’s PC-12 NG, serial number 1717, in Stans and acceptance by our dealer, Oriens Aviation, the aircraft was ferried to the UK. There, the formal aircraft handover to Neil took place in a very special setting, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 1 July. Neil attended the festival with his wife, Brid, and their two sons. Edwin Brenninkmeyer, CEO Oriens Aviation, was delighted to present the keys to his new customer: “The Oriens team is especially proud to be making this formal handover at this terrific aerodrome in Goodwood, because it completely fits with our customers’ wish to fly into the smaller, more convenient airfields, closer to one’s point of departure and destination than the larger, paved airfields.”
A Happy Customer
The aircraft is based at Leeds Bradford airport where Neil and his family live nearby. He has already used his new aircraft frequently during this summer and explains: “I anticipate flying up to 200 hours per year and I’m much enjoying the time I spend in my new PC-12 NG, be it for business needs or for leisure with my family.”