This PC-12/45 was first seen in Stans Switzerland in early 2005. It was moved to Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sparks (NV) for modifications and received FAA registration N482WA. The moved to Aviation Resources DE Inc, Hagerstown RAP (MD) for further modifications in mid-December 2005. N486WA was cancelled on 14 November 2006 and the Draco was delivered to the 319th SOS at Hurlburt Field (FL). The U-28As provide fixed-wing tactical airborne ISR support to humanitarian operations, search and rescue and conventional and special operation missions as AFSOC reports.

About to pause at Prestwick for a few days on an onward journey Stateside, following Special Operations duty on overseas detachment. Accompanied by stablemate 05-0597.

Lining up on runway 12 for departure to Keflavik.

Nicely coloured U-28 before they went over to battleship grey.

Nice study of a U-28A during its take-off from Kandahar. The U-28A provides a manned fixed wing, on-call/surge capability for tactical airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of special operations forces.

The history of the 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) dates back to Sep'44 when it was activated as a C-46/C-47/C-123 Troop Carrier Squadron where it served in the China-Burma-India Theater during WWII within the civic action and counterinsurgency missions (also flew T-28 Trojans). Since then the squadron was activated, redesignated and deactivated several times, but on 1 Oct'05, the SOS was activated as part of an overall expansion of the USAF Special Operations Command. It started to fly this secretive Pilatus U-28A that provides intra-theater support for special operations forces.