The Pilatus PC-6 "Porter" is a single-engine, utility-minded small-market aircraft designed, developed, and produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Around 600 of this versatile platform have been produced to date and the type has become a proven Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft thanks to its high-wing mounting, light-weight arrangement, and rugged construction. The type was sold for a time by the Fairchild Aircraft brand as well and remains in global circulation today - despite a first-flight in May of 1959. Production has run from 1959 until 2019 and operators include both military and civilian organizations as well as law enforcement.
The aircraft has a unique body shape with its tapered nose and tail sections. The cockpit/cabin takes up most of the volume at center with the engine installed at the nose. The wing mainplanes are monoplanes installed high atop the fuselage roof and braced along the lower sides of the fuselage walls. The tail unit incorporates a single vertical fin with low-mounted horizontal planes. The undercarriage, while wheeled, is fixed during flight (non-retractable). Bracing is also used here for ruggedness when landing on unprepared surfaces.
The cockpit sports the typical steam-gauge arrangement with central throttle console. The cabin, when equipped for passengers, features a single-aisle arrangement with forward-facing, single-seating to either fuselage wall.
The popularity of the PC-6 is such that there have been a plethora of variants generated throughout the flying life of this aircraft. Original models were piston-powered types, driven by the Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 flat-six, and encompassed the PC-6/340 Porter and PC-6/350 marks. Then followed the turboprop models beginning with the PC-6/A Turbo-Porter. Fairchild marks included the PC-6/C2-H2 Porter with its Garrett TPE 331-101F turboprop engine.
A pair of Turbo-Porters served the United States Army from 1979 until 1991 as the UV-20A "Chiricahua", these operated in West Berlin during the Cold War period.
The PC-6 B2 "Turbo-Porter" form is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PT6A-27 turboprop engine of 550 horsepower driving a three-bladed constant-speed propeller at the nose. Maximum speed is 145 miles-per-hour with a cruising speed near 135 mph. Range is out to 1,000 miles (ferry) while its service ceiling is restricted to under 27,000 feet.
Notable former military operators include Australia, Israel, Iraq, and the United States while notable current military operators remain Algeria, Argentina, France, and Switzerland. Law enforcement organizations in Malaysia, Oman, South Africa, and Thailand operate the type.
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August 2017 - It was announced on August 18th, 2017 that Pilatus Aircraft would be concluding production of its PC-6 line, intending to support in-service models for some twenty more years.
Australia; Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Austria; Bolivia; Canada; Chad; Colombia; France; Ecuador; Hungary; Indonesia; Iran; Israel; Malaysia; Mexico; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; New Zealand; Oman; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Slovenia; South Africa; Sudan; Switzerland; Thailand; Untied Arab Emirates; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
ENHANCED ACCESS
Design incorporates feature(s) that facilitates loading / unloading of cargo / personnel from the aircraft.
Length
36.1 ft (11.00 m)
Width/Span
52.0 ft (15.85 m)
Height
10.5 ft (3.20 m)
Empty Wgt
2,866 lb (1,300 kg)
MTOW
6,173 lb (2,800 kg)
Wgt Diff
+3,307 lb (+1,500 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Pilatus PC-6 B2 (Turbo Porter) production variant)
monoplane / high-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Pilatus PC-6 B2 (Turbo Porter) production variant)
Installed:
1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 turboprop engine developing 550 horsepower and driving a three- or four-bladed propeller at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Pilatus PC-6 B2 (Turbo Porter) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
None.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
PC-6 "Porter" - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from official Pilatus Aircraft press release.
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Australia; Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Austria; Bolivia; Canada; Chad; Colombia; France; Ecuador; Hungary; Indonesia; Iran; Israel; Malaysia; Mexico; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; New Zealand; Oman; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Slovenia; South Africa; Sudan; Switzerland; Thailand; Untied Arab Emirates; United States
