Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo-Porter
Pilatus Aircraft · Switzerland · first flew 1961 · transport aircraft
The Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo-Porter is the definitive Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-powered variant of the PC-6 family, combining outstanding STOL performance with a versatile cabin for paradropping, cargo, medevac, and utility missions in remote environments worldwide.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Iconic boxy fuselage with large cargo/parachute door on the left side |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single turboprop STOL utility with exceptionally long undercarriage struts
- High-set straight wing with large Fowler flaps and drooped leading edge
- Iconic boxy fuselage with large cargo/parachute door on the left side
The combination of a single large turboprop, extremely tall fixed undercarriage with long shock-absorber legs, and a high straight wing gives the Turbo-Porter an unmistakeable angular silhouette unlike any other aircraft.
Specifications
- The Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo-Porter has a length of 10.9 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.13 m (50 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + up to 9 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The original piston-engined PC-6 Porter flew in 1959 and quickly gained a reputation for exceptional short-field performance. The Turbo-Porter designation covers turboprop-powered variants from the early 1960s onwards; the B2-H2 specifies the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engine variant, which became the most widely sold version.
Variants
PC-6 variants differ by engine: the A series used Turbomeca Astazou and Turboméca Bastan turboprops, the B series uses PT6A engines in various marks. Over 500 PC-6s were built before production ended in 2019.
Where you'll see it
The PC-6 has served with military forces and civil operators on every continent, notable users including the US Army (UV-20 Chiricahua), Swiss Air Force, and numerous aid organisations. It remains the benchmark for extreme STOL utility aircraft.
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- Pilatus PC-6 Porter
- Pilatus PC-7
- Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter
- Pilatus P-3
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