Pilatus Aircraft rolled-out the first PC-24 jet prototype on 1 August in an elaborate ceremony on the Swiss National Day.
The ceremony attracted 25,000 spectators, who watched the jet pulled into the public eye by 24 horses symbolising the aircraft's mission profile as a workhorse.
Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pilatus, was enthusiastic about the new PC-24 and the event.
"Today's celebration is a clear sign of our commitment to Switzerland as a centre of vision and action," he effused. "Our company was established here in Stans exactly 75 years ago. We have seen our activities grow and expand here in Stans, and this is where we want to be in the future: in Stans, producing our aircraft for sale to customers around the world.
"It's wonderful that so many thousands of guests from Switzerland, and also from countries nearby and further afield, have made the effort to be with us here today, to celebrate this event together. The PC-24 marks a really important milestone in our 75-year history!“
Pilatus signed deals for 84 of the new jet at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in May this year, including a sale to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for use in Western Australia.
The PC-24 comes equipped as standard with a cargo door and the kind of performance that enables it to operate in and out of very short runways or even unmade strips.
Three prototypes will be produced for the PC-24 test flight programme. The maiden flight of the first prototype will go ahead in the northern spring of 2015, with final certification and first deliveries to customers planned for 2017.