Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter

Pilatus Aircraft · Switzerland · first flew 1967 · transport aircraft

The Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter was a twin-turboprop development of the highly successful PC-6 Porter STOL utility aircraft, developed to explore whether twin-engine safety margins could be combined with the PC-6's exceptional short-field performance. Only one prototype was built.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.5 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Twin-turboprop development of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter STOL aircraft
High-wing STOL utility transport from Switzerland
Single prototype — twin-engine Porter did not enter production

Visually very similar to the Pilatus PC-6 Porter but with two small turboprop engines on the wing rather than the PC-6's single nose engine; the characteristic high-wing strut-braced layout and slab-sided STOL fuselage are shared with its parent type.

Specifications

The Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter has a length of 10.5 m (34 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15.6 m (51 ft).
Its maximum speed is 260 km/h (162 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Pilatus flew the PC-8D prototype in 1967, essentially grafting two turboprop engines onto a PC-6 airframe to evaluate the concept. The resulting aircraft flew satisfactorily but offered no compelling advantage over the PC-6 sufficient to justify a new production programme, and Pilatus did not proceed to series manufacture.

Variants

Only the single PC-8D prototype existed; the PC-6 Porter continued as the production STOL line.

Where you'll see it

The PC-8D Twin Porter never entered commercial or military service.

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