The Pilatus SB-2 Pelican was a civil utility aircraft

Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...

 developed by the newly formed Pilatus Aircraft

Pilatus Aircraft

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. is an aircraft manufacturer located in Stans, Switzerland. The company employs more than 1,100 people.-History:The company was established in 1939, but it was not until 1944 that a Pilatus-built aircraft, the SB-2 Pelican, first took to the air...

 company during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Its configuration was slightly unusual, in that it was provided with tricycle undercarriage (an uncommon feature at the time), and a wing that had a slight forward sweep.
Work on the SB-2 Pelikan, a special “slow-flying” aircraft, commenced in the winter of 1941. Good short takeoff and landing credentials, plus steep climbing capabilities, were essential attributes of the aircraft flown in the narrow Alpine valleys at that time. The SB-2 Pelikan made its maiden flight on 30 May, 1944. After extensive trials, the only model of this type ever produced went to Alpar AG in Berne. The Pelikan was particularly well suited for passenger operations, but could also be used for aerial photography, survey flights, freight transport and agricultural work.


It was fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Canada radial engine (Wasp Junior) with a takeoff power output of 446 hp (333kW).

The “demise” of the Pelikan occurred on 13 June, 1948 during an air display. An unnoticed transverse fracture led to the Pelikan’s nose wheel sheering off, causing the aircraft to flip over. Repair was out of the question

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Specifications (SB-2)

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: up to 5 passengers
• Span: 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
• Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney R-985
  Pratt & Whitney R-985
  The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior is a series of nine-cylinder air-cooled radial aircraft engines built by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company from the 1930s to the 1950s. These engines have a displacement of ; initial versions produced , while the most widely used versions produce...
  
  Wasp Junior, 336 kW (450 hp)
• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)