Pilatus PC-6 Porter
PC-6 Porter/Turbo-Porter | |
---|---|
A PC-6 Turbo-Porter, B2-H4 PT6A-34 variant, used for skydiving in Spain | |
Role | STOL passenger and utility aircraft |
Manufacturer | Pilatus Aircraft Fairchild Aircraft |
First flight | Porter - 4 May 1959 Turbo-Porter - 2 May 1961. |
Status | In service |
Primary users | Civil aviation Austrian Air Force, Myanmar Air Force, Swiss Air Force |
Produced | 1959–2022[1] |
Number built | 604[1] |
Variants | Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker |
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a single-engined
Development
On 4 May 1959, the first prototype, powered by a 254 kW (340
The initial turbine-powered models of the PC-6 were equipped with the Astazou II powerplant, however complaints on the reliability of this engine led to another early turboprop powerplant becoming available for the PC-6. This was the
To offset rising labour and manufacturing costs in Switzerland, Pilatus distributed manufacturing work on the PC-6 to other countries; in 1993, Czech Republic-based Letov Kbely began manufacturing activity upon the type.[8] Its unit cost in 2010 was $1,900,000.[9] In 2013, Pilatus formed a joint venture with Beijing Tian Xing Jian Yu Science Co., Ltd. to locally manufacture the PC-6 and the newer Pilatus PC-12 in Chongqing, China; initially this facility performed subassembly work on the fuselage, and later other elements such as the wings and moving surfaces, which were transported to Pilatus' final assembly facility in Stans, Switzerland.[10][11] Global production of the PC-6 will eventually be transferred to the Chongqing facility. On 11 December 2014, the first Chinese-assembled PC-6 fuselage was completed.[12][13] In 2014, the majority of PC-6s delivered that year were to Chinese customers.[14] By April 2016, around 20 PC-6s were in operation in the Chinese market; the type has often been used to replace the Antonov An-2, being reportedly cheaper to operate.[15]
The Porter was also manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States. Roughly 100 of these licence-produced aircraft would be completed, being mainly purchased by civil operators within the US.[6][16] A number of Fairchild Hiller-built PC-6s were also procured for military operations during the Vietnam War. It received the designation AU-23A Peacemaker for service with the U.S. Air Force. The Peacemaker was fitted with a side-firing 20mm XM-197 Gatling cannon, four wing pylons and a centre fuselage station for external ordnance. However, the AU-23A proved to be troublesome in service. All of them were returned to the continental U.S. and placed into storage after only a single year of operation. In 1979, a pair of UV-20s were assigned to the aviation detachment of the Berlin Brigade in Germany due to their suitability for operating within the heavily restricted airspace; they were fitted for carrying either cargo, up to eleven passengers, or three litters with four medical attendants.[17]
After nearly 600 deliveries in six decades including about 90 Fairchild-Hiller built and 425 PT6-powered, but only 52 in the last ten years, Pilatus will close the orderbook from summer 2018 and will roll off the last one in early 2019 while parts production will continue for at least 20 years.[18] Due to pandemic delays, the last PC-6 Porter was instead delivered in December 2022 after 604 produced in 63 years.[1]
Design
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a
Early models of the PC-6 were equipped with a full instrument panel as standard, and were reportedly easy for unfamiliar pilots to intuit.[22] Later-manufactured PC-6s are equipped with a Garmin G950 glass cockpit in place of analog instrumentation; the majority of earlier-produced PC-6s can also be retrofitted with a glass cockpit.[9][23] In addition to its flight functionality, the G950 system acts as a remote maintenance unit and electronic flight bag all in one. Two large 10.4-inch liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) are present, functioning as the Primary Flight Display for all key flight information and the Multi-function Display for system/mission management. Fully independent secondary flight instrumentation is also provided to provide backup altitude, attitude, and airspeed information in the event of complete electrical failure.[9][20] The cockpit has been designed for single pilot operations; additional flight controls for a co-pilot can be optionally fitted.[19] Other optional features include an autopilot (capable of operating within all phases of flight), traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), weather radar, satellite phone, LIDAR, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and lightning detector; in addition, onboard electrical and avionics equipment are readily modifiable to conform with customer requirements.[9][20]
The airframe is of a rugged and low-maintenance construction; featuring high levels of accessibility, interchangeability, and favourable manning levels.[20] The wings, fuselage, and empennage are manufactured using conventional semi-monocoque construction techniques, the primary structure being composed of aluminium;[20] the central structure retains critical strength despite the cutout areas for the sliding doors of the main cabin.[22] Corrosion resistance is achieved via a combination of plating and a polyurethane-based enamel paint.[20] The simple nature of the structure allows for ease of repair in the field.[16] Features such as low-pressure tyres, twin-caliper disc brakes, and a highly energy-absorbent undercarriage enable the aircraft to be capable of operating from rough or otherwise challenging terrain.[24]
For role flexibility, individual aircraft can be easily converted between various mission types, such as transport,
Operational history
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The PC-6 is noted for its Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) performance on almost any type of terrain - it can take off within a distance of 640 feet (195 m) and land within a distance of 427 feet (130 m) while carrying a payload of 2,646 lbs (1,200 kg). Thanks to its STOL performance, the PC-6 holds the world record for highest landing by a fixed-wing aircraft, at 18,865 feet (5,750 m), on the Dhaulagiri glacier in Nepal.[28]
Due to the type's favourable STOL characteristics, described by the magazine
During its early service, the PC-6 Porter was noted for its high level of comfort and usability against competing aircraft.[29] The type has also proven to have a long service life; by 1993, roughly 440 of the 500 PC-6 Turbo Porters completed by that point were still in service.[16]
During the 1960s and 1970s, the Central Intelligence Agency-controlled airline Air America operated up to 23 PC-6s at a time. Many of these were operated in the South-East Asia region, including South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The type was used for various missions, including paradropping supplies to troops, passenger transport, psychological warfare, reconnaissance, prisoner conveyance, airborne radio relay, and other intelligence operations.[6]
Since 1976, the Austrian Air Force has operated a fleet of 12 PC-6 Porters as the mainstay of their fixed-wing transport fleet; the type has been used in various support roles, including transport, search and rescue, firefighting, observation, target-towing and paradropping.[30][31]
According to Flying magazine, around 40 per cent of all PC-6s in use in Europe during the early 1990s were being used by skydivers.[7]
Variants
- PC-6/340 Porter
- Initial production version, powered by a 254-kW (340-hp) Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 flat-six piston engine. Max takeoff weight 1,960 kg (4,320 lb).[2]
- PC-6/350 Porter
- As PC-6/340, but powered by a 261 kW (350 hp) Lycoming IGO-540-A1A piston engine.[2]
- PC-6/A Turbo-Porter
- Initial turboprop powered version, fitted with a 390 kW (523 shp) Turbomeca Astazou IIE or IIG turboprop engine.[2]
- PC-6/A1 Turbo-Porter
- This 1968 version was powered by a 427-kW (573-shp) Turbomeca Astazou XII turboprop engine.
- PC-6/A2 Turbo-Porter
- This 1971 version was powered by a 427-kW (573-shp) Turbomeca Astazou XIVE turboprop engine.
- PC-6/B Turbo-Porter
- This version was powered by a 410-kW (550-shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-6A turboprop engine.
- PC-6/B1 Turbo-Porter
- Similar to the PC-6/B, but fitted with a 410-kW (550-shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 turboprop engine.
- PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo-Porter
- Fitted with a 507-kW (680-shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 turboprop engine.
- PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo-Porter
- The B2-H4 has improved airframe structuring and extended, upturned wingtips.
- PC-6/C Turbo-Porter
- One prototype built by Garrett TPE331-25D turboprop engine.
- PC-6/C1 Turbo-Porter
- Similar to the PC-6/C, but fitted with a 429-kW (575-shp) Garrett TPE 331-1-100 turboprop engine.
- PC-6/C2-H2 Porter
- Developed by Fairchild Industries in the USA. It was powered by a 485-ekW (650-ehp) Garrett TPE 331-101F turboprop engine.
- PC-6/D-H3 Porter
- One prototype, fitted with a 373-kW (500-hp) avco Lycoming turbocharged piston engine.
- AU-23A Peacemaker
- Armed gunship, counter-insurgency, utility transport version for the U.S. Air Force. It was used during the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. 15 were built under licence in the USA by Fairchild Industries.[32] All aircraft were sold to Royal Thai Air Force.
- OV-12
- Designation for U.S. version, cancelled 1979.
- UV-20A Chiricahua
- STOL utility transport version for the U.S. Army. Two UV-20As were based in West Berlinfrom late 1979 until 1991.
- PC-8D Twin Porter
- Twin-engined version flown in 1967, but not subsequently developed.
Operators
Current military operators
- Argentine Navy[34]
- Gendarmeria Nacional Argentina[35]
- Myanmar Air Force - 7 Aircraft[37]
- Chad Air Force[38]
- Indonesian Air Force
- Agricultural Air Unit – Five PC-6/B2-H2[40]
Former military operators
- Australian Army Aviation - 19 were in service from 1968 to 1992.
- 173rd Surveillance Squadron (Australia)
- No. 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight
- No. 163 Independent Reconnaissance Flight
- No. 171 Air Cavalry Flight
- School of Army Aviation
- Bophuthatswana Air Force - Later transferred to South African AF
- Colombian Air Force
- Iraqi Army Aviation;
- Two in service with the 83rd Squadron since 20/11/1987.
- Sudanese Air Force - eight ordered in 1966[47]
Law enforcement operators
- Royal Malaysian Police
Civil operators
- Adventist Aviation Indonesia[48]
- Associated Mission Aviation[49]
- Yajasi Aviation
- Smart Aviation[50]
- Susi Air
- Tara Air
- Mount Cook Airlines
- Thai Ministry of Agriculture
Former civil operators
- National Hydrological Service
- National Ambulance Service
- Merpati Nusantara Airlines[51]
- Mimika Air[52]
Accidents and incidents
- 18 November 1981, a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) of Royal Nepal Airlines crashed after it lost height during take-off from Biratnagar Airport in Nepal. The fatalities included 1 crew and 9 passengers with no survivors.[53]
- 12 November 1991 - An Australian Army Turbo Porter A14-683[54] crashed after it stalled on take off, two soldiers were killed. The inquiry put pilot error onto the incident. The Aircraft was written off.
- 26 December 1999 - A Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo porter registration HB-FKJ[55] crashed near Turin. Because of heavy turbulence, a wing broke away from the fuselage causing the plane to crash; the two people aboard died.
- 15 March 2002 - A United States Army Pilatus UV-20A collided in midair with a Cessna 182C during parachute jumping operations at Marana Regional Airport, near Marana, Arizona. While the Cessna was able to land, the Pilatus entered an uncontrolled dive and crashed, killing the pilot and destroying the aircraft.[56]
- 30 May 2008 - A Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo porter registration EC-JXH[57] crashed near Lillo, Spain. After going into a stall, the plane's left wing broke causing the door to open, allowing nine skydivers to jump out and survive. One skydiver and the pilot died in the crash.
- 25 April 2012 - A Pilatus PC-6 (PK VVQ), operated by Susi Air, crashed in Kalimantan Timur, Melak district killing the pilot and passenger(s) which was engaged in an Aerial Survey of the area. The aircraft was reported missing at 1710 LT on 25 April with the wreckage found on 26 April, thus confirming the condition of the occupants/aircraft.[58][59]
- 19 October 2013 - A Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter registration OO-NACNamur-Suarlée Airport (EBNM), Belgium. All aboard died. The aircraft (S/N 710) was built in 1969 and had been rebuilt in 2002 by Pilatus Flugzeugwerke following a takeoff accident at Moorsele (EBMO) on 12 March 2000.[61]
- 19 June 2016 - A Pilatus PC-6 disintegrated in midair while carrying seven skydivers for practice in Beja, Portugal. All skydivers survived, although two were severely wounded. The pilot was the single fatality.[62]
- 30 August 2022 - A South African Police Service PC-6 crashed shortly after taking off from Rand Airport, South Africa. All five passengers died during the accident. The pilot was the sole survivor and was severely injured.[63][64]
- 8 March 2024 - A Pilatus PC-6 (PK-SNE), operated by Smart Aviation, crashed into a forest near Binuang, Nunukan, North Kalimantan, after taking off from Juwata Tarakan International Airport. During the flight, the plane had two people: the pilot and the engineer. The pilot was the sole survivor.[50][65]
Specifications (PC-6 B2 Turbo-Porter)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–1994,[66] Pilatus Aircraft,[19][67] Flying Magazine[68]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: up to 10 pax / 1,130 kg (2,491 lb)
- Length: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 15.87 m (52 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 30.15 m2 (324.5 sq ft)
- Airfoil: NACA 64-514[69]
- Empty weight: 1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,800 kg (6,173 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 turbopropengine, 410 kW (550 hp) (de-rated from 507 kW (680 hp))
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed reversible propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 232 km/h (144 mph, 125 kn) [70]
- Cruise speed: 213 km/h (132 mph, 115 kn)
- Stall speed: 96 km/h (60 mph, 52 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 280 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
- Range: 730 km (450 mi, 390 nmi) with maximum payload
- Ferry range: 1,612 km (1,002 mi, 870 nmi) with maximum internal and underwing fuel
- Service ceiling: 8,197 m (26,893 ft)
- Wing loading: 93 kg/m2 (19 lb/sq ft)
See also
External videos | |
---|---|
Documentary featuring the PC-6 | |
STOL takeoff performed by a PC-6 | |
PC-6 display at the 2009 Durban Virginia airshow |
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Antonov An-2/An-3
- Comp Air 8
- Daher Kodiak
- de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
- GippsAero GA10
- PAC P-750 XSTOL
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d Chad Trautvetter (13 December 2022). "Pilatus Aircraft Delivers Last PC-6 Porter". AIN online.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Taylor 1965, pp. 126–127.
- ^ a b Fricker 1962, p. 38.
- ^ Fricker 1962, p. 102.
- ^ Fricker 1962, p. 103.
- ^ a b c d Leeker, Joe F. "Air America: Pilatus / Fairchild PC-6 Turbo Porters." Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine University of Texas at Dallas, 24 August 2015.
- ^ a b Moll 1993, p. 65.
- ^ a b Moxon, Julian. "Small is beautiful." Archived 2016-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Flight International, 12 June 1996.
- ^ a b c d Collins, Peter. "FLIGHT TEST: Pilatus PC-6." Archived 2016-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Flight International, 28 September 2010.
- ^ Spruce, Terry. "Pilatus forms joint venture and opens new facility in China." Archived 2016-03-15 at the Wayback Machine Corporate Jet Investor, 7 August 2013.
- ^ "Pilatus Bets On PC-6 Porter for China." Archived 2016-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Aviation Week, 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Swiss PC-6 aircraft fuselage tapes out." Archived 2016-04-02 at the Wayback Machine China Daily, 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Pilatus PC-6 Airplanes." Archived 2015-05-29 at the Wayback Machine China Daily, 7 January 2014.
- ^ Trautvetter, Chad. "Pilatus Tops $1B in Revenues for Second Year in a Row." Archived 2015-08-07 at the Wayback Machine AIN Online, 9 April 2015.
- ^ Thurber, Matt. "Pilatus PC-6 Proves Popular in China." AIN Online, 13 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Moll 1993, p. 64.
- ^ Johnson and Jones 2013, pp. 433.
- ^ William Garvey (25 April 2018). "End Of The Line For Pilatus PC-6 Porter". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "PC-6: The World's Leading STOL." Archived 2016-03-29 at the Wayback Machine Pilatus Aircraft, Retrieved: 17 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "PV-6 Turbo Porter: Anywhere, Anytime, in any Environment." Archived 2015-05-13 at the Wayback Machine Pilatus Aircraft, Retrieved: 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Datalink." Archived 2016-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Flying Magazine, November 2002. p. 50. Vol. 129, No. 11. ISSN 0015-4806.
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- ^ Moxon, Julian. "Austria ready to modernise." Archived 2016-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Flight International, 27 October 1999.
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- ISSN 0306-5634.
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- ^ Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 37.
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- ^ Hoyle Flight International 8–14 December 2015, p. 40.
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- ^ Hoyle Flight International 8–14 December 2015, p. 47.
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- ^ Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 49.
- ^ Hoyle Flight International 8–14 December 2015, p. 52.
- ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.
- ^ "Aircraft Photo of PK-TCA — Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter". airhistory.net. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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- ^ "SOUTH EAST ASIA 1960s-1970s - INDONESIA & DUTCH NEW GUINEA". goodall.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "PC-6 History s/n 959". pc-6.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
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- ^ "Accident Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter A14-683, 12 Nov 1991". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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- ^ "NTSB Identification: LAX02FA110B". NTSB. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
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- ^ Herzig, Markus. "PC-6 History s/n 710". Pilatus Porter History. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident 19-OCT-2013 Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter OO-NAC". Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- GPIAA. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
- ^ "Four technicians, police officer die in Rand Airport crash". Alberton Record. September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ Zyl, Corné van (6 September 2022). "Pilot of HORRIFIC SAPS aircraft crash still in ICU fighting for his life [UPDATE]". The South African. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ Sucipto, Sucipto (12 March 2024). "Kisah Penyelamatan Pilot Smart Air yang Jatuh di Kaltara". kompas.id. Kompas. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
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- ^ Moll 1993, p. 68
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ Taylor 1999, p. 489.
Bibliography
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- Genève, Alain (March 1990). "50 ans d'aviation au pied Mont Pilatus (3): Les Pilatus PC-6 PC-6 "Porter" et "Turbo Porter (1)" [50 Years at the Foot of Mount Pilatus (3): The Pilatus PC-6 Porter and Turbo Porter, Part 2]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (244): 18–24. ISSN 0757-4169.
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- Accident Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter A14-683, 12 Nov 1991