Pilatus PC-6 Porter/Turbo-Porter

Pilatus PC-6B1-H2 Turbo Porter HB-FCF Swiss Air ForcePilatus PC-6B1-H2 Turbo Porter HB-FCF Swiss Air Force

The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a single-engined Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) utility aircraft designed by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. It has been built in both piston engine and turboprop powered versions (Turbo-Porter) and was produced for a time by Fairchild Hiller in the United States.

  • Role: STOL Passenger and utility aircraft
  • National origin: Switzerland
  • Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft
  • First flight: Porter – 4 May 1959, Turbo-Porter – 2 May 1961.
  • Produced: 1959-present
  • Number built:581 (As of August 2014)
  • Status: Active service

Military variants

  • AU-23A Peacemaker – Armed gunship, counter-insurgency, utility transport version for the U.S. Air Force
  • UV-20A Chiricahua – STOL utility transport version for the U.S. Army

Civil Pilatus PC-6 Porter/Turbo-Porter

Military operators

  • National Air Force of Angola
  • Argentine Navy
  • Gendarmeria Nacional Argentina
  • Austrian Air Force
  • Myanmar Air Force
  • Chad Air Force
  • Ecuadorian Army
  • Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
  • Mexican Air Force
  • Peruvian Air Force
  • Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence
  • Swiss Air Force
  • Royal Thai Air Force
  • United States Army

Specifications PC-6 B2 Turbo-Porter

General characteristics

  • Crew: one, pilot
  • Capacity: up to ten passengers
  • Payload: 1,130 kg (2,491 lb)
  • Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.87 m (52 ft 0¾ in)
  • Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 30.15 m² (324.5 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: NACA 64-514
  • Aspect ratio: 8.4:1
  • Empty weight: 1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 2,800 kg (6,173 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 turboprop, 410 kW (550 shp)(downrated from 507 kW (680 shp))

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 280 km/h (151 knots, 174 mph)
  • Maximum speed: 232 km/h (125 knots, 144 mph)
  • Cruise speed: 213 km/h (115 knots, 132 mph) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
  • Stall speed: 96 km/h (52 knots, 60 mph) (flaps down, power off)
  • Range: 730 km (394 nmi, 453 mi) with maximum payload
  • Ferry range: 1,612 km (870 nmi, 1,002 mi) with maximum internal and underwing fuel
  • Service ceiling: 8,197 m (25,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.8 m/s (941 ft/min)