Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter

The Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter is a single-engine utility aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Originally developed with a piston engine as the PC-6 Porter in 1959, it was later re-engined with a turboprop powerplant, becoming the definitive Turbo Porter variant widely used from the 1960s onward. Its exceptional short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability made it one of the most versatile light utility aircraft ever produced. The PC-6 can operate from unprepared strips, mountain plateaus, glaciers, and jungle clearings, making it a favorite of humanitarian organizations, military operators, skydiving operations, and bush pilots worldwide. It is capable of carrying up to ten passengers or a substantial cargo payload, and its large cargo door facilitates loading of bulky equipment. Production of the PC-6 spanned over six decades, with Pilatus finally announcing the end of production in 2019 after delivering more than 500 airframes. Despite the end of new production, a large fleet remains active globally in diverse roles including cargo, parachuting, medevac, and aerial survey.