Pilatus P-2. 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. A second prototype was also produced, which was subject to a formal evaluation by the Swiss Air Force before the P-2 was formally produced by the service.

The P-2 was operated by the Swiss Air Force between 1946 and 1981. The majority of the surviving aircraft were sold onto the civilian sector, where they have been often been painted in Luftwaffe markings to appear at both films and airshows alike. The P-2 is fully capable of performing aerobatic maneuvers, although its Argus As 410A-2 V-12 engine is known for being somewhat temperamental and has contributed to some incidents. Various components of the P-2 were sourced from other contemporary aircraft flown by the Swiss Air Force, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

Design and development
The origins of the P-2 can be traced back to the early years of Pilatus and the firm's desire to produce trainer aircraft for the Swiss Air Force. Amid the opening years of the Second World War, Pilatus had repeatedly attempted to obtain a licence to produce both Italian and German training aircraft, however, these endeavours proved to be fruitless. As an alternative, the company opted to develop its own military trainer. A key influence on the project was the Pilatus P-1, a single-seat aircraft that had been designed by the firm but never produced. By late 1943, work had progressed to the point where construction of the first prototype could commence.

The P-2 is a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction (metal, wood and fabric) with a fully retractable tailwheel undercarriage and dual control tandem seating. As an economic measure, several components were identical to existing aircraft operated by the Swiss Air Force, such as elements of the landing gear being sourced from the Messerschmitt Bf 109. There were two series of production machines, one (P-2-05) unarmed and the second (P-2-06) equipped as weapons trainers, with a machine gun above the engine and wing racks for light bombs and rockets. The aircraft is suitable for performing a variety of aerobatic maneuvers.

It is powered by a single Argus As 410A-2 V-12 inverted piston engine, which is capable of producing up to 465 hp. These engines were originally imported from neighbouring Nazi Germany. They are not considered to be particularly durable engine and have a tendency for connecting rod and piston failures. Proper operation of the Argus engine involved both delicate handling and smooth power changes, which was typical of engines designed during the 1930s.

During 1946, after the successful completion of trials using the second prototype, the Swiss Air Force placed an initial order for 26 P-2.05 aircraft. Furthermore, a second batch of twenty-five P-2.06 aircraft were produced and delivered to the Swiss Air Force between December 1949 and September 1950. The P-2 remained in service with the Swiss Air Force until 1981. The type was succeeded by the Pilatus P-3 and the Pilatus PC-7.

After the type's withdrawal from service by the Swiss Air Force, most of the surviving aircraft (roughly around 48) were sold to the civil sector. During 2008, at least 23 appeared on the national registers of Switzerland, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. They proved to be a popular civil flyer's airplane and have often appeared in Luftwaffe markings in films and airshows as an unidentified "enemy" aircraft.

Variants

P-2-01
First prototype (HB-GAB/A-101/U-101), Argus-powered.

P-2-02
Non-flying static testframe.

P-2-03
Hispano-Suiza HS-12Mb upright V water-cooled engined prototype.  Large ventral radiator.

P-2-04

Armed version of P-2-03.

P-2-05
Production version of unarmed machine, Argus motor.  26 delivered to Swiss AF.

P-2-06
Production version of armed machine, Argus motor.  26 delivered to Swiss AF.

Operators

 Haitian Air Force

 Swiss Air Force

Specifications (P-2)

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

Further reading
 
 
 

P-02
1940s Swiss military trainer aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1945
Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear
Single-engined piston aircraft