|
Pilatus PC-6A Turbo Porter (1964 - 1965) |
||||
 |
Page 1 (of 1) |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Pilatus-Flugzeugwerke AG of Stans, Switzerland designed their PC-6 Porter to fulfil a range of utility roles and managed to build a rugged and reliable aircraft with excellent landing and takeoff ability on short and rough landing grounds. The prototype flew for the first time in May 1959. The first production aircraft was delivered in 1960 and was powered by a six cylinder Lycoming GSO480 piston engine, but soon a turboprop-powered variant was developed. The first PC-6A Turbo Porter flew in May 1961. The aircraft was equipped with a 523 hp Turboméca Astazou IIE/G turboprop engine. The Swedish Army Aviation leased a PC-6A Turbo Porter for testing in 1964. The aircraft carried Pilatus’ construction number 570. It was painted blue and white and was fitted with markings according to the normal Army standard, but lacked registration number. In the beginning of 1965, the Porter participated in exercises during harsh winter conditions in north Sweden. The Army Aviation also tested two other types of aircraft – the British Beagle Husky and two of the small helicopter Hughes 269. The helicopters were kept and got the designation HKP 5A, but the Pilatus and the Beagle were returned to the suppliers. After its short visit to Sweden, the Pilatus PC-6A was sold to Air America and got the American civil registration code N9445. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) owned Air America. During the Vietnam War, the organization flew a variety of missions in the Far East. Air America was wound up in 1976. Photo: Norrköping 1964. Length: 11,02 m. Span: 15,13 m. MTOW: 2200 kg. Max. speed: 280 km/h |
||||
|
|
||||
|
This picture of a RC-controlled model of the
PC-6 shows the elegant painting of the aircraft in a better way than the
b/w photo at top. The owner of this nice model, Örjan Björnsson, Sweden,
points out that this is not an scale model. It is a ready-built model
which he coated with new fabric. It has no ambitions to fulfil the demands
of an exact scale model – it just only resembles the original. Photo ©: Örjan Björnsson. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
| © Lars Henriksson |
|
Updated 2011-12-17 |
||
|
|
||||
