105 year-old Swiss artist Hans Erni is world-renowned for his painting, graphic art, and sculpting, and also happens to be a former pilot. He created this beautiful paint work on a Pilatus PC-12 NG, to help the company celebrate it's 75th anniversary of incorporation - December 16, 1939.
Hans Erni signs the engine cowling for the PC-12 NG for which he designed the art. (Pilatus)
Erni, born in 1909 drew the artwork on the plane, which had been painted royal blue. Pilatus says the art depicts horses, doves of peace, and Pegasus, which were chosen to symbolize the PC-12 NG's workhorse capabilities and flight characteristics. At the plane's presentation on Tuesday, Erni said:
"I've been lucky enough to have worked on many exceptional things in my life - but never yet on such a fantastic aircraft! I'm proud to think that my drawings are now destined to fly around the world!"
With over 1,300 sales since its launch in 1994, the PC-12 is the world's most successful single-engine turboprop. Powered by Pratt & Whitney's PT-6, it has a range of up to 1,560 nautical miles when carrying 3 people. Earlier this year, Amelia Rose Earhart used a PC-12 NG to become the youngest woman to fly around the globe. The demo plane with the art by Hans Erni will be used to promote Pilatus while touring around the world in 2015, to various business aviation air shows.
All photos courtesy of Pilatus