Pilatus PC-9
The PC-9 is a more powerful evolution of the PC-7. It retains the overall layout of its predecessor but has very little structural commonality with it. Amongst other improvements, the PC-9 features a larger cockpit with stepped ejection seats and also has a ventral airbrake.
The PC-9 programme officially started in 1982. Although some aerodynamic elements were tested on a PC-7 during 1982 and 1983, the first flight of the first PC-9 prototype took place on 7 May 1984. A second prototype flew on 20 July of the same year; this prototype had all the standard electronic flight instrumentation and environmental control systems installed and was thus almost fully representative of the production version.
Certification was achieved in September 1985. Unfortunately by this time the PC-9 had lost in the RAF trainer competition to the Short Tucano. However, the marketing links that Pilatus built up with British Aerospace during the competition stood them in good stead, as it soon led to their first order from Saudi Arabia.
More than 250 aircraft of this type have been built to date.
Operational history
The first production aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force flew on 19 May 1987, under the Australian designation PC-9/A.
Condor Flugdienst of Germany used 10 examples of the target-towing variant.
Variants
- Beech Pilatus PC-9 Mk.2: In order to compete in the United States JPATS competition, Pilatus and Beech Aircraft Corporation developed an extensively modified version of the PC-9, called the Beech Pilatus PC-9 Mk. II which beat out seven other contenders. It was later renamed the T-6A Texan II and is now built and marketed independently by Raytheon (who purchased Beech in 1980) in Wichita, Kansas.
- PC-9B: This target-towing version has an increased fuel capacity enabling flight for up 3 hours and 20 minutes as well as two Southwest RM-24 winches under the wings. These winches can reel out a target up to 3,5 kilometres.
- PC-9M: This version was introduced in 1997 as the new standard model. It has an enlarged dorsal fin in order to improve longitudinal stability, modified wingroot fairings, stall strips on the leading edges as well as new engine and propeller controls. Slovenia placed an order for 9 in December of the same year, Oman ordered 12 examples in January 1999 and Ireland signed a contract for 8 in January 2003.
Military operators
- Angolan Air Force operates 4 aircraft delivered from 1987.
- Royal Australian Air Force operates 67 aircraft - 2 were supplied directly by Pilatus, 17 were assembled from Pilatus-supplied kits and 48 were built in Australia by Hawker de Havilland. The type is also used by the Roulettes aerobatic display team of the RAAF.
- Croatian Air Force operates 20 aircraft - 17 PC-9M delivered new from 1997, as well as three second-hand examples. PC-9s are used for advanced pilot training and as a national aerobatic aircraft in a group called Wings of Storm.
- Cypriot National Guard operated 2 aircraft delivered from 1989.
- Iraqi Air Force received 20 aircraft delivered from 1987.
- Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca operates 14 PC-9M's, more possibly will be delivered.
- Malaysian Air Force received 10 aircraft delivered from April 1986.
- Royal Air Force of Oman operates 12 aircraft delivered from 1999 to March 2000.
- Royal Saudi Air Force operates 50 aircraft delivered from December 1986. These examples were sold via British Aerospace.
- Slovenian Armed Forces operates 9 aircraft delivered from November 1998. These examples have been upgraded in Israel.
- Swiss Air Force operates 14 aircraft delivered from 1987. Two returned to Pilatus after evaluation.
- Royal Thai Air Force operates 36 aircraft delivered from 1991.
- United States Army.
Civil operators
- Condor Flugdienst operated 10 aircraft for target-towing duties.
- BAE Systems operated 2 development aircraft in support of the Royal Saudi Air Force contract.
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