Pilatus more or less hit the jackpot with the PC-12 turboprop utility aircraft. There was no aircraft yet with a single turboprop engine in the nose, short/rough field performance, a good range and a comfortable, flexible cabin with a large cargo door in the left aft fuselage. With its T-tail the PC-12 was easy to recognise, as there was no similarly looking aircraft. Indeed it was until Textron Aviation decided to take on comptetion with the Beechcraft Denali.

Note: different versions of the PC-12 are used by the USAF, all designated as U-28A.

The different versions of the Pilatus PC-12 can be recognised by

• the shape of the winglets
• the shape of the cabin windows
• the shape of the engine cowling
• the number of propeller blades

The first generation PC-12 is characterised by the shape of the winglets. Although the prototypes lacked them, the production version has either small winglets, perpendicular to the wings, of larger winglets at an angle of about 45 degrees. Both types of winglets were standard, the choice was up to the buyer. The PC-12 and PC-12/45 only differ in the maximum take-off weight, 4100 kg or 4500 kg.

Blackhawk Aerospace offers the XP67P engine upgrade for these models. With the upgrade the company replaces the original PT6A-67B by the PT6A-67P, that is standard on the PC-12/47E. On the outside we see no differences, it is just like the nose of all PC-12s. 

The easiest way to distinguish a PC-12/47 from the /45 is to look at the winglets. They look more like raked wingtips than winglets, because they are attached almost in-line with the wings.

The Blackhawk XP67P engine upgrade described above is also available for the PC-12/47. 

On the updated version, the designated PC-12/47E, but marketed as PC-12NG, the winglets are no recognition point, because the changes compared to the PC-12/47 are internal: new avionics and a slightly different engine. This version can be fitted with a five-bladed prop.

To recognise the newest version, marketed as PC-12NGX, you have to look at the cabin windows. These are rectangular, and like those of the PC-24. For the rest this subtype is the same as the PC-12NG, even the official designation PC-12/47E. PC-12NGXs are often painted with a black frame around the cockpit windows, but this can off course als be done on older models to make them look modern.

Another company that offers an upgraded stock PC-12 is known as Super Legacy XP Ltd. At the core of the modification is the same engine as Blackhawk uses. However this is mated to a seven blade propeller and has a redesigned cowling. On the PC-12 Super Legacy XP - as the modification is named - there is some space between the intake and the prop spinner. This also results in a smaller "smile" shape of the intake, when viewed from the front.