Pilatus P-2

what is it?

The Pilatus P-2 is a trainer aircraft designed and produced by Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus. The development of the P-2 originates in the first half of the Second World War, during which time Pilatus has attempted to secured a production licence for existing Italian and German trainers before opting to design its own trainer aircraft instead. During 1943, construction of the first prototype commenced; it performed its maiden flight on 27 April 1945.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 11 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 340 km/htop speed
• range 865 kmwithout refuelling
• built 55made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 81 years ago, in 1945.
• 🏎️Top speed is 2.6× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 11 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1945

retired

1981

status

retired

number built

55

role

trainer

origin

🇨🇭 Switzerland

makers

Pilatus Aircraft

engines

1× Argus As 410A-2

crew

2

length

9.1 m

wingspan

11 m

height

2.7 m

top speed

340 km/h

cruise speed

332 km/h

range

865 km

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.