The Pilatus Porter and Turbo Porter STOL utilities are renowned for their exceptional STOL performance and low speed handling and have sold strongly on the strength of their performance.

The high wing taildragger Porter was designed to perform a range of  utility roles, and flew for the first time on May 4 1959. The first production aircraft built were delivered from 1960 and were powered by a six cylinder GSO480 piston engine, but it was not long after that a turboprop powered development flew.

The first PC6/A Turbo Porter flew in May 1961, powered by a 390kW (523shp) Turboméca Astazou II turboprop. The majority of PC6s are PC6/Bs, powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A. PC6/Cs were powered by a 310kW (575shp)