So let’s say you don’t want to be seen, even when you are visible. What do you do? Buy a Camry? That’s pretty much what the United States Air Force’s Special Operations Command did when they bought as many as 24 Pilatus PC-12s, which they designate the U-28A.
Pilatus, a Swiss aircraft manufacturer, has been making the PC-12 since 1994. The single turboprop passenger and cargo craft provides the perfect cover for Air Force spy missions where the usual suspects would bring too much attention. A U-2 flying over China or Russia isn’t going to bring much attention. One flying over the Sudan or Egypt may bring unwanted attention.
Equipped with an array of cameras and other intelligence-gathering instruments as well as passengers, the U-28A can fly over an area and not draw the attention that pure military aircraft would. With its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop droning along, few would suspect the passenger plane of anything. Just how those special ops guys like it. Furthermore, the short field capabilities and rugged nature of this aircraft make it very useful when SOCOM needs to get into unimproved fields in third world countries to pick up a “package”. Yeah, just a courier service.
So, if you ever see a PC-12 fly over you, you might want to get the tin foil hat out. You never know who’s peeking into your windows.
[Image Credit: US Air Force]
The world's craziest courier service is still bicycle messengers. This may be the most dangerous, but in a completely different way than bicycle couriers are the most dangerous.
Oh great now we've given the secret to all the Somali pirates who read Atomic Toasters.
As long as they don't find out about the teleporters….
Its painted a military gray… I think it stands out… Because who in the private sector paints their plane gray that is not some warbird flying wiz.
Agreed — I was thinking the same thing, the flat gray kind of gives it away. Otherwise, I think it's quite a pretty little plane that I'd never heard of before, but somehow it feels odd with that single prop at the front — just looks like it wants to have twin engines on the wings, for some reason.
There is likely a twin version. Could they have just gotten a plane Cessna 172 and just outfitted it with the cameras and left it in the distressed stock looking colors or better still and plan DC-3 in traditional military olive drab. Who would think twice about either aircraft?
This plane has over twice the range of a 172. It might have better rough and short field take off performance too. As for the DC-3 I know this plane can fly 10,000ft higher, not sure how the take off and landing distances compare to the DC-3.
I've got a pretty good feeling that the Special Ops guys have a paint shop they can use if they need it for the mission.
Short landings and take offs are a hallmark of Pilatus:
[youtube NN4K9vUB1tA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN4K9vUB1tA&feature=related youtube]
I'm sure that is a big plus for the special ops guys to be able to land on any short straight stretch of road/field/pasture.
not the same planes at all, but short takeoff and landing stuff is a lot of fun to watch!!!
here's an example:
[youtube 2pw4OE7gM2M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pw4OE7gM2M youtube]
That's plane nuts!
Seriously, it looks like the take off run is about 2x the length of the plane. I wonder how many injured hikers/dead grizzlies he can lift in that short a run, though.
in real practice in POV cam…….
[youtube 4cPSlQH_kB0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cPSlQH_kB0 youtube]
If you search "alaska bush pilot STOL" you get many of these videos on youtube…. cray ShL*T
[youtube -Sn5JL9t_C4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sn5JL9t_C4 youtube]
The Custer's short field performance is still far superior.
I just KNEW somebody would drag that thing up… It IS a really cool plane though…
You mean THIS plane
http://atomictoasters.com/2012/01/the-custer-chan…
Yes Sherlock I believe I do… =)
Though texlenin made a good point on mentioning Burnelli's aircraft.
I am nothing if I am not a shameless self promoter.
WhooHoo!!! I got an honorable mention! hot damn!
Aren't some Pilatus models illegal to fly in the states, kinda like the russian An-2?