The fuselage and wings of the first production PC-24 twinjet were mated today at Pilatus Aircraft’s headquarters in Stans, Switzerland. According to Pilatus, series production is being “accelerated" to ensure that prompt deliveries of first customer aircraft can go ahead immediately after certification in the fourth quarter. Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based PlaneSense is the launch customer for the new jet.

“The process of attaching the wings to the fuselage demands accuracy to within a hundredth of a millimeter,” Pilatus noted. Wing mating soon will be followed by cabin installation and testing of aircraft systems.

PlaneSense president and CEO George Antoniadis, who flew to Stans for the event, said, “We are excited to witness the fuselage-wing mating…and proud to see the PC-24 sporting the PlaneSense colors, being the culmination of years of preparation.”

Fractional provider PlaneSense currently operates 34 PC-12 turboprop singles. It will add six PC-24s within the first three years of production and plans to place an add-on “significant order” as soon as Pilatus reopens the order book, which could happen as early as later this year.