Dusty & Dirty: Swiss Air Force Pilatus PC 6 Off Airport Operations

#swissairforce #pilatus The Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter has earned a legendary reputation as an exceptionally rugged aircraft with outstanding short take-off and landing capabilities. And it is not just on remote airstrips in the Amazon, the deserts of Africa or the Himalayas that the Porter continues to demonstrate these qualities. The Swiss Air Force still makes use of the capabilities of the Pilatus Porter, powered by its reliable Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engine. During the summer of 2026, pilots operating from Emmen Air Base once again trained their off-airfield operating skills, flying to various fields across the Swiss countryside. A windsock and just a few pieces of fabric marking the landing area were all the “airfield infrastructure” they had. Although the PC-6s, capable of carrying up to 1.2 tonnes of payload, were not heavily loaded for these training missions, it was still impressive to see the aircraft taking off and landing next to a farm, requiring little more space than a Super Puma transport helicopter.