Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is the world market leader in the manufacture of single-engine turboprop aircraft and the only Swiss company to develop, produce and sell aircraft and training systems all over the world.

The company was founded in 1939 at Stans, Switzerland. It first developped the SB-2 Pelican and after World War II started with the production of the 54 Pilatus P-2 training aircraft. This aircraft was succeeded by the Pilatus P-3, which was built for the Swiss Air Force and for the Brazilian Navy. In 1959, the legendary Pilatus PC-6 Porter took off for the very first time. The PC-6 Porter and Turbo Porter became one of two types of aircraft to be manufacturered for more than 50 years – the other being the C-130 Hercules. 

With the successfull launch of the Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer, which had its first flight in 1978, PIlatus Aircraft Ltd entered the international market for training aircraft. To date, more than 450 PC-7 have been built. In 1984, the more powerful Pilatus PC-9 made its first flight. Ten years later, the much improved Pilatus PC-7 II was launched.

In 1994, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd started to built the PC-12 multi-purpose aircraft. This aircraft proved to be the most successfull aircraft ever built by the company. This type helped the company to suvive the declining market for military training aircraft after the end of the cold war.

In 2002, the Pilatus PC-21 was rolled out. This advanced military training aircraft initally had a slow start.

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