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.