Pilatus PC-11

The Pilatus PC-11 (also known as the Pilatus B-4) is an all-metal intermediate sailplane built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.

The PC-11 is designed to Standard Class specifications, which means that it has a 15 metre wingspan and no flaps. Airbrakes are provided on the top surface of each wing for glidepath control. Construction is aluminium, with foam ribs in the mainplane, fin and tailplane.

Development

The design of this glider originated in the 1960s, when the company Firma Rheintalwerke G. Basten (from which the "B" in the original designation is derived) manufactured the first two prototypes. The first flight of the first prototype took place on 7 November 1966. However, no series production was started.

In 1972 Pilatus bought the manufacturing licence for the B-4 and renamed it the PC-11. In the spring of the same year the first production example (numbered HB-1100) undertook its first flight.

A total of 322 PC-11s of all versions were built by Pilatus until the license to manufacture the craft was sold to Nippi Aircraft of Japan, who only built 11 examples, including a two-seater.

Subsequently, in 1994, EWMS Technomanagement GmbH bought the rights to produce and service the PC-11. This company also specializes in renovating and upgrading older PC-11 craft. In addition, it manufactures a motorized PC-11.

Variants

While the original B-4/PC-11 was permitted do a number of aerobatic maneuvers, it was not permitted to do inverted loops or flick/snap/quick maneuvers. Consequently, the PC-11 A was developed, which was permitted to perform inverted loops and was also able to handle higher G-forces. In 1975 the PC-11 AF version was released, which had full aerobatic capabilities. The PC-11 was available with either fixed or retractable landing gear.

Specifications (Pilatus B-4)

General Characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 6.57 m (21 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 6 in)
Height: 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 14 m² (151 ft²)
Aspect ratio: 16:1
Empty: 230 kg (508 lb)
Loaded: kg ( lb)
Maximum takeoff: 350 kg (773 lb)

Performance

Maximum speed: 149 km/h (72 mph)
Maximum glide ratio: 1:35
Rate of sink: 38 m/min (126 ft/min)
Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)