Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer

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.

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.

Well over one million hours have been flown by PC-7s worldwide.

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.

Operators

•  United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi): 31 (delivered from 1982)
•  Angola: 25 (delivered from 1982)
•  Austria: 16 (delivered from 1983)
•  Bolivia: 24 (delivered from 1979)
• Bophuthatswana: 2 (delivered from 1989, later transferred to South Africa and subsequently returned to Pilatus)
•  Botswana: 7 (delivered from 1990)
•  Brunei Darussalam: Royal Brunei Air Force has 4 (PC-7 Mk 2)
•  Chad: Chad Air Force has 2 (delivered from 1985)
•  Chile: 10 (delivered from 1980)
•  France: 5 (delivered 1991)
•  Guatemala: 12 (delivered from 1980)
•  Iran: 35 (delivered from 1983)
•  Iraq: 52 (delivered from 1980)
•  Malaysia: 46 (delivered from 1983)
•  Mexico: 88 (delivered from 1970)
•  Myanmar: 17 (delivered from 1979)
•  Netherlands: 13 (delivered from 1989)
•  South Africa: 60
•  Suriname: 3 (delivered from 1986)
•  Switzerland: 40 (delivered from 1979)
•  Uruguay: 6 (delivered from 1992)

Variants

• 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.

• NCPC-7 Upgraded version of the standard PC-7 with fully IFR glass cockpit avionics, developped for the Swiss Air Force.

Specifications (PC-7 Turbo Trainer

General characteristics

• Crew: two, student and instructor
• Length: 10.13 m (33 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 10.12 m (33 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 16.3 m² (175 ft²)
• Empty: 1,670 kg (3,680 lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 2,700 kg (5,940 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C, 522 kW (700 shp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 250 kt (460 km/h or 290 mph)
• Range: 1,050 nm (1,950 km or 1,210 miles)
• Service ceiling: 9,150 m (30,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 865 m/min (2,840 ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)

Armament

• Six hardpoints for bombs and rocket
  
  

Source : Wikipedia