РС-6 Porter

May 4 marked the 65th anniversary of one of the most famous general-purpose aircraft, the PC-6 Porter, which was created by the Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft. On that day in 1959, the first prototype of the aircraft took flight in Stans, the administrative center of the Nidwalden canton. It was equipped with a piston engine with 340 horsepower. The aircraft's standout feature was its ability for short takeoff and landing. Production quickly began on a serial basis, but orders were lacking. The situation started to improve after the installation of a 530 horsepower Turbomeca Astazou II turboprop engine in the PC-6 in 1961. The aircraft then officially became known as the Turbo Porter, although it was usually still referred to by its old name in everyday usage. It became a true hit among its peers when it received a more reliable Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine with 550 horsepower in 1966.

Serial production of the PC-6 took place both at the Pilatus factory in Stans and at the Czech Letov Kbely enterprise and the American company Fairchild Hiller’s plant. In 2014, production was entirely moved to Chongqing, China. Production of the aircraft ceased in 2022 when orders for it dwindled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the possibility of manufacturing not only parts but also large components remained. Thus, resuming serial production is not out of the question, as there is still demand for this type of aircraft.

In total, over 600 units were built in 17 main variants. The serial PC-6 B2 with a PT6A engine had a length of 11 meters, a wingspan of 15.9 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 2800 kg, a commercial load capacity of over 1100 kg, a maximum speed of 232 km/h, and a range of 1612 km.

PC-6 aircraft were acquired by civilian operators and military entities from over 40 countries, including Australia, Austria, Angola, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Sudan, the United States, Thailand, France, Chad, and Switzerland. The aircraft was used for transporting passengers and small cargo, as well as for addressing numerous other tasks: from training paratroopers to counterinsurgency operations, where armaments were installed on the aircraft.

The PC-6, being very tolerant of various airfields, able to work successfully in different climate conditions, simple, and reliable, has earned a high reputation. In many countries, its operation will continue for a long time.