The origins of the P-2 can be traced back to the early years of Pilatus and the firm's desire to produce trainer aircraft for the Swiss Air Force.

[3] Amid the opening years of the Second World War, Pilatus had repeatedly attempted to obtain a licence to produce both Italian and German training aircraft, however, these endeavours proved to be fruitless.

[3] The P-2 is a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction (metal, wood and fabric) with a fully retractable tailwheel undercarriage and dual control tandem seating.

As an economic measure, several components were identical to existing aircraft operated by the Swiss Air Force, such as elements of the landing gear being sourced from the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

[citation needed] After the type's withdrawal from service by the Swiss Air Force, most of the surviving aircraft (roughly around 48) were sold to the civil sector.

They proved to be a popular civil flyer's airplane and have often appeared in Luftwaffe markings in films and airshows as an unidentified "enemy" aircraft.