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The 'Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer' is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft, manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying. It has been selected by more than twenty air forces as their ab initio trainer — since the aircraft's introduction in 1978 close to 500 have been sold, with the majority still in service.
Well over one million hours have been flown by PC-7s worldwide.

Contents

Development

Variants

Operators

Military Operators

Civil Operators

Specifications (PC-7 Turbo Trainer)

References

External links

Related content

Development

The PC-7 is based on the earlier piston-powered Pilatus P-3. The first prototype (manufactured from a modified P-3) flew on 12 April 1966, but after a crash the PC-7 programme was shelved.
In 1973 the programme was restarted and another P-3 was obtained from the Swiss Air Force. After modification, this aircraft flew on 12 May 1975. Further extensive modifications followed later in the programme, including a new one-piece wing with integral fuel tanks, an altered tailfin and a bubble canopy.
The first production aircraft flew on 18 August 1978. Swiss civil certification followed on 5 December of the same year, with deliveries starting immediately thereafter.
The 'PC-7 Mk II' is a development of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, fitted with the PC-7's smaller turbine to lower operating and maintenance costs. It is used by the South African Air Force, with sixty examples having been manufactured. The aircraft were assembled in South Africa from kits supplied by Pilatus. The value of the contract was estimated to be USD 175 million in 1993. Due to political considerations, the aircraft were not fitted with the armament hardpoints. Four PC-7 Mk II aircraft are used by the air force of Brunei.
The aircraft is also used by private customers and is both FAA and FOCA civil certified in order to comply to the general aviation regulations in Europe and the USA.

Variants

★ 'PC-7' : Two-seat basic trainer aircraft.

★ 'PC-7 Mk II' is a development of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, fitted with the PC-7's smaller turbine to lower operating and maintenance costs.

★ 'NCPC-7' : Upgraded version of the standard PC-7 with fully IFR glass cockpit avionics, developed for the Swiss Air Force.

Operators

Military Operators

An incomplete list of the users of the PC-7 are:

★ (Abu Dhabi): 31 (delivered from 1982)

★ : 25 (delivered from 1982)

★ : 16 (delivered from 1983)

★ : 24 (delivered from 1979)

★ Bophuthatswana: 2 (delivered from 1989, later transferred to South Africa and subsequently returned to Pilatus)

★ : 7 (delivered from 1990)

★ : Royal Brunei Air Force has 4 (PC-7 Mk 2)

★ : Chad Air Force has 2 (delivered from 1985)

★ : 10 (delivered from 1980)

★ : 5 (delivered 1991)

★ : 12 (delivered from 1980)

★ : 35 (delivered from 1983)

★ : 52 (delivered from 1980)

★ : 46 (delivered from 1983)

★ : 88 (delivered from 1970)

★ : 17 (delivered from 1979)

★ : 13 (delivered from 1989)

★ : 60

★ : 3 (delivered from 1986)

★ : 40 (delivered from 1979)

★ : 6 (delivered from 1992)

Civil Operators

Civilian users: 7+

Specifications (PC-7 Turbo Trainer)

References

External links

Related content