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. The prototype first flew on 28 November 1967. Only one aircraft was built as flight testing was halted in 1969.
To keep development costs down, as many components as possible were adopted from the single-engine PC-6 Porter, such as the center fuselage, the wings and main landing gear. There was a new development of the forward fuselage, also with the tail and the arrangement of the propellers. The cabin was easily converted for various tasks. First drafts showed a motor assembly right and left of the fuselage nose, similar to the Dornier Do 28. A tandem arrangement of the engines like on the Dornier Wal above the fuselage, as with the earlier flying boats, was considered. In the final design, the engines were located very close, in front of the wings, to the fuselage with separate engine pylons. There was no fixed connection between the engines and the wings, but a gap as in a slat. With this arrangement, it was hoped to obtain favorable values for single-engined flight.
Specifications
Data from Flight International
General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: nine passengers
Length: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 15.60 m (51 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 32.40 m2 (348.8 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,550 kg (3,417 lb) typical
Gross weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming IO-540-GIB , 220 kW (290 hp) each
Maximum speed: 260 km/h (162 mph; 140 kn)
Cruise speed: 230 km/h (143 mph; 124 kn)
Minimum control speed: 72 km/h (45 mph; 39 kn)
Range: 1,100 km (684 mi; 594 nmi)
Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,200 ft/min)Take off distance = 160m Landing roll = 130m
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