Pilatus PC-7
The Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft, designed and manufactured in Switzerland by Pilatus Aircraft. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions, including aerobatics, instrument, tactical, and night flying.
| PC-7 | |
|---|---|
| PC-7 Team of the Swiss Air Force | |
| Role | Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Pilatus Aircraft |
| First flight | PC-7: 12 April 1966 (prototype) 18 August 1978 (production) PC-7 Mk.II M: 28 September 1992 |
| Introduction | PC-7: 1978 PC-7 Mk.II M: 1994 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Mexican Air Force Indian Air Force South African Air Force Royal Malaysian Air Force |
| Produced | 1966–present |
| Number built | >618 |
| Developed from | Pilatus P-3 |
| Variants | Pilatus PC-9 |
The PC-7 was developed from the preceding piston-powered Pilatus P-3, largely differing by the adoption of a turboprop engine, a bubble canopy, and a new one-piece wing. Introduced during the 1970s, it has since developed a sizable presence of the global trainer market. The type has been adopted by in excess of twenty air forces as their ab initio trainer, as well as multiple civilian operators. Over one million hours have reportedly been flown by PC-7s worldwide. In addition to training operations, some aircraft are armed and have been used for combat missions by several customers, including Chad, Iran, and Mexico, often in violation of the relevant export agreement between the customer and the Swiss government.
An improved model of the aircraft, the PC-7 Mk.II M, was developed during the 1990s, by combining the newer airframe and avionics from the PC-9 with the PC-7's smaller turbine engine. Reportedly, in excess of 600 PC-7s have been sold to various operators, the majority of which still being in service. In Pilatus' range of aircraft, the PC-7 has been succeeded by the newer PC-9 and PC-21 trainers.