Like others have expressed in this thread I too am THRILLED to hear SWS is planning a PC-12 release. The Kodiak is stellar in every way, and surely if their PC-12 is similarly comprehensive it will be a rare treat.
That said…
Their indication that the first version would be “…the PC-12/47 which will come with a mixed glass/steam cockpit” likely indicates it will likely be the classic (Pre-NG/NGX) cockpit layout pictured here:
Having had extensively flown this version of the PC-12 from Carenado in both FSX and X-Plane, that would certainly be a treat in MSFS. And if they offered the option to replace the GNS530 with PMS50’s GTN750 (as Carenado did in X-Plane with Reality XP’s GTN750) then oh baby… all the better.
Now, with that said…
SWS’s indication that the second version would be “the Pilatus PC-12 NG with a fully-fledged custom glass cockpit, but due to the code work required, this is going to come in 2023” would be THE ULTIMATE PC-12.
But understandably, “the code work” they’re talking about is having to build the NG (and NGX) version’s Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite from scratch I assume. It’s a truly fabulous avionics suite as can be evidenced in this image (with the NGX version’s touch screen controller, at bottom of center array):
And here’s a comprehensive tour of the Apex array from Pilatus’s YouTube channel:
Clearly, one can’t just plop a G1000 or G3000 in a PC-12 because well… that’s a not configuration that any PC-12 in existence has - so far as I know - so it’s going to take some real programming work to accomplish a fully functioning (or acceptably complete) Apex Avionics array.
And with THAT said… HERE’s my cockamamy suggestion to the team at SWS:
If SWS were to partner with either the Working Title team or perhaps PMS50 (the GTN750 developer) to create the Apex Avionics to speed things along and give the SWS team the breathing room to work on the graphics and flight model…
– BY OFFERING A PATREON SUBSCRIPTION TO FINANCE THE ACCELERATED WORK –
…and, presumably, offering subscribers above or beyond a certain number of months BETA access followed by a big discount or FREE version at initial release – then hey, I’d join at $10 bucks a month in heartbeat. No regrets. I love the PC-12 that much. I bet many (hundreds) of flight simmers do too.
Of course, I’ll still do the Snoopy dance when I get my hands on even a previous generation PC-12 with steam/glass combo… but to be sure, having an NG or NGX version with a reasonably complete and functional APEX Suite would be NIRVANA. I’d likely never fly another aircraft in MSFS again.
Well except the Kodiak now and again!