Pilatus PC7

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. 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 (modified from the prototype P-3 by replacing its Lycoming O-435 engine with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 turboprop) 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 12 August 1978. Swiss civil certification followed on 5 December of the same year, with deliveries, to Burma and Bolivia starting immediately thereafter.
The aircraft is also used by private customers and is both FAA and FOCA civil certified to comply to the general aviation regulations in Europe and the USA.
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.

Operational history

PC-7s were used by the Iraqi Air Force for close air support in the Iran-Iraq war. They were also used to deliver chemical weapons against Iranian troops.
The Chadian Air Force has used its small fleet of PC-7s to bomb rebel positions both in their own territory and in neighboring Sudan.
In 1994, Mexican Air Force armed PC-7 were used to attack Zapatista Army of National Liberation during the Chiapas conflict in Mexico. This action was considered illegal by the Swiss government because the airplanes were sold for training purposes only, and as result, Switzerland issued a ban to sell more units to Mexico.
In June 2011, the Indian Air Force selected the Pilatus PC-7 MkII trainer as its basic trainer, an initial order of 75 was made. In typical Indian fashion, this order could be progressively increased to 181 trainers after technology transfer to India. The Indian cabinet approved the deal to buy the trainer.The contract was signed on 24 May 2012.

Variants

• PC-7 : two-seat basic trainer aircraft, powered by PT6A-25A engine rated at 410 kW (550 shp).
• PC-7 Mk II is a development of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, retaining the PC-7's wing to mount external stores. Powered by PT6A-25C of 522 kW (700 shp) rather than more powerful PT6A-62 of PC-9.In many ways this aircraft is a hybrid PC-7 and PC-9, either a PC-7 'Heavy' or a PC-9 'Lite' depending on point of view. Developed for the SAAF, and known as the 'Astra'.
• NCPC-7 : upgraded version of the standard PC-7 with fully IFR glass cockpit avionics, developed for the Swiss Air Force.

 

 

An incomplete list of the users of the PC-7

 Angola

• National Air Force of Angola: 25 (delivered from 1982)

 Austria

• Austrian Air Force : 16 (delivered from 1983)

 Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force : 24 (delivered from 1979)

 Botswana

• Botswana Defence Force Air Wing: 7 (delivered from 1990) replaced by 5 PC-7 Mk 2 from 2011

 Brunei

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

 Chad

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

 Chile

• Chilean Navy: 10 (delivered from 1980)

 Guatemala

• Guatemalan Air Force: 12 (delivered from 1980)

 India

• Indian Air Force: 75 PC-7 Mk 2 on order (delivery to start from 2013)

 Iran

• Iran Air Force: 35 (delivered from 1983)

 Malaysia

• Royal Malaysian Air Force: 46 (delivered from 1983)

 Mexico

• Mexican Air Force : 88 (first delivery May 1979)

 Myanmar

• Myanmar Air Force: 17 (delivered from 1979)

 Netherlands

• Royal Netherlands Air Force 13 (delivered from 1989)

 South Africa

• South African Air Force 60 (PC-7 Mk 2)

 Suriname

• Military of Suriname 3 (delivered from 1986)

 Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force 40 (delivered from 1979), 28 NCPC-7 in service in 2011.

 United Arab Emirates

• United Arab Emirates Air Force 7 delivered.

 Uruguay

• Uruguayan Air Force 6 (delivered from 1992)

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Specifications (PC-7 Turbo Trainer)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, student and instructor
• Length: 9.78 m (32 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 10.40 m (34 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.21 m (10 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 16.60 m² (179.0 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,330 kg (2,932 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25A turboprop, 410 kW (550 shp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 500 km/h (270 knots, 310 mph)
• Maximum speed: 412 km/h (222 knots, 256 mph) (max cruise at 6,100 m (20,000 ft))
• Stall speed: 119 km/h (64 knots, 74 mph) flaps and gear down, power off
• Range: 2,630 km (1,420 nmi, 1,634 mi) (cruise power, at 5,000 m (16,400 ft) - 20 min reserves)
• Service ceiling: 10,060 m (33,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10.9 m/s (2,150 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 114.5 kg/m² (23.44 lb/ft²)

Armament

• Hardpoints: 6 × hardpoints for bombs and rockets with a capacity of 1,040 kg (2,294 lb)

Accident and incidents

In November 2009, a civilian passenger in the back seat of a South African Air Force Pilatus PC-7 MK II ejected from the aircraft while in flight. The civilian accidentally pulled the yellow and black ejection lever while trying to brace himself. The passenger is thought to be a friend of the pilot, Captain Gerhard Lourens of the Silver Falcons. Civilians are not usually allowed in aircraft equipped with ejector seats. An air force spokesman confirmed that officials had launched an investigation into the accident. The passenger survived the incident.
The South African Air Force grounded their fleet of PC-7 MkIIs after a crash on 15 January 2008. The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff from Overberg Air Force Base in the Western Cape Province. SAAF Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Meiring, 50, died shortly after the crash. The plane was flying to Langebaanweg Air Force Base for maintenance but shortly after take-off it rolled and flew into the ground. The cause is believed to be a structural problem.
In March 2010, a pilot was killed when his Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft exploded and caught fire in midair during a solo airshow.This is the fifth accident involving PC-7 aircraft which belongs to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
In 2010, 2 Mexican pilots were killed in an accident around Acapulco Mexico. The Mexican Air Force reported officially the incident, but further details were not given.^{[citation needed]}
On 20 October 2011 two PC-7 of the Botswana Defence Force were involved in a mid-air collision over Letlhakeng 100km west of Gaborone. Two of the four aircrew involved was killed in the incident.