Pilatus Flugzeugwerke

Geschichte

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. is an aircraft manufacturer located in Stans, Switzerland. In June 2016, the company employed 1,905 people.The company has mostly produced aircraft for niche markets, in particular STOL aircraft as well as military training aircraft. In the 1990s, with the introduction of the PC-12, a single-engine turboprop aircraft, Pilatus opened up a broader civilian market. With the PC-24, it offers a twin-engined STOL jet aircraft capable from operating from unpaved runways.History1939-1949The company was established on 10 December 1939 by the armament company Oerlikon-Bührle, and construction of a new production building started in March 1940. The company was formed to do maintenance and repairs for the Swiss Air Force, the first work of the new company was assembly of EKW C-35 reconnaissance biplanes from spare parts, and overhaul work on other types.The first design project was a single-seat trainer, designated the P-1, although it was abandoned before being built. The next project was the construction of the SB-2 Pelican which had been designed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. The SB-2 first flew on 30 May 1944 only one of the five-seat light transports were built.In 1942, the company won a contract from the Swiss military to modify 33 EKW C-3603. Following on from the abandoned P-1 design, the company started again on the development of a two-seat trainer, designated the P-2. The P-2 first flew on 27 April 1945, and the company won an order for the Swiss Air Force.