Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-24 super versatile jet built with Hexcel composite materials on display at Geneva show

Pilatus is displaying the PC-24 at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, taking place in Geneva on May 22-24. This highly versatile jet is able to take off and land on very short runways and unpaved strips due in part to the composite-intensive structure, which makes great use of Hexcel's composite materials and adhesive.

Hexcel's HexPly 8552 woven prepreg in carbon and glass variants is used to manufacture a number of the aircraft components including the belly fairing, which is the largest composite structure on the aircraft. HexPly 8552 is one of Hexcel's most successful and widely used prepregs for aircraft programs including commercial aircraft and fighter jets. Hexcel's Redux 319 epoxy film adhesive is also used for bonding the composite structures.

The PC-24 is in the final stages of its certification program following the first flight of the third and final test aircraft on March 6 2017. The aircraft is scheduled for certification and entry into service in the 4th quarter 2017. Pilatus has so far secured 84 orders for the PC-24, which equates to three years of production.