Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter

The Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter was a Swiss ten-seat light transport built by Pilatus Aircraft. The type did not go into production and only one was built.^[1]

PC-8D Twin Porter
Role	STOL Light transport
National origin	Switzerland
Manufacturer	Pilatus Aircraft
First flight	28 November 1967
Status	Scrapped
Number built	1
Developed from	Pilatus PC-6

Work on the Twin Porter started in 1966, it was a modified Pilatus PC-6 high-wing monoplane with the nose-mounted engine removed and two 290 hp Lycoming IO-540-GIB engines mounted on the wing leading edges.^[2] The prototype first flew on 28 November 1967.^[3] Only one aircraft was built as flight testing was halted in 1969.

Specifications

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1968–69^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 9 passengers
• Length: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 15.60 m (51 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 32.4 m² (349 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,550 kg (3,417 lb) (equipped)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming IO-540-GIB5 air-cooled six-cylinder horizontally-opposed, 220 kW (290 hp) each
• Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-A3VK/V8433-4, 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) diameter

Performance

• Maximum speed: 260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
• Cruise speed: 230 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn) max cruise (70% power at sea level)
• Range: 1,400 km (870 mi, 760 nmi) max fuel, 620 kg (1,370 lb) payload, no reserves
• Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,200 ft/min)
• Take off distance to 15 m (50 ft): 260 m (850 ft)
• Landing distance from 15 m (50 ft): 250 m (820 ft)

See also

External images
Pilatus PC-8 Twinporter
Pilatus PC-8A Plan
Pilatus PC-8D Plan

• Switzerland portal
• Aviation portal

Related development

• Pilatus PC-6

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Britten-Norman Islander

References

1. "Pilatus Chronical" (PDF). Pilatus Aircraft.
2. Harrison, Neil (23 November 1967). "Commercial Aircraft Survey". Flight International. p. 869. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
3. "World News: Twin Porter Revealed". Flight International. 28 March 1968. p. 434. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
4. Taylor 1968, p. 151

• Taylor, John W. R. (1968). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1968–69. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.