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Pilatus Aircraft, a major European manufacturer of general and private aviation aircraft, has a long history dating back to its founding in December 1939. Initially established to produce Spitfire fighter aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, the company pivoted towards maintenance and repair contracts when Switzerland opted to purchase completed aircraft from Messerschmitt.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Pilatus developed various aircraft models, including the P-2 trainer and P-4 light transport aircraft. However, commercial success came later with the PC-6 Porter in the late 1950s. This short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft gained popularity in the United States.
In subsequent decades, Pilatus introduced several successful models like the PC-7 Turbo Trainer and PC-9. The most notable was the PC-12 single-engine turboprop launched in the late 1980s. Over 2,000 units have been produced, making it one of the best-selling turboprop planes globally.
