The PC-7 was developed from the preceding piston-powered Pilatus P-3,[1] 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.[2] 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.[citation needed] 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.IIM, 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[needs update] PC-7s have been sold to various operators, the majority of which are in service. In Pilatus' range of aircraft, the PC-7 has been succeeded by the newer PC-9 and PC-21 trainers.[3]
Development
Origins
Work on what would become the PC-7 commenced during the 1960s. It was based on the earlier piston-powered Pilatus P-3, the initial prototype being produced from the existing prototype P-3, principally differing by the substitution of its Lycoming O-435 engine with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20turboprop power-plant.[1][4] On 12April 1966;58 years ago(1966-04-12), the modified prototype performed its maiden flight.[1] However, the PC-7 programme was abruptly shelved following an accident involving the aircraft.[5] The termination of work was reportedly driven by a lack of market interest.[4]
A Swiss-registered PC-7, fitted with additional 240L (53impgal; 63USgal) fuel drop tanks under each wing, 1987.
During 1973, it was decided to restart work on the programme; factors for its revival had included the 1973 oil crisis, the launch of the rival Beechcraft T-34C Turbo-Mentor, and the increasing age of existing trainer aircraft.[4] To support the relaunch, another P-3 was obtained from the Swiss Air Force. After modifications, this aircraft first flew on 12May 1975;49 years ago(1975-05-12). Further extensive modifications followed later in the programme, including the adoption of a new one-piece wing complete with integral fuel tanks, along with an altered tail fin and a bubble canopy.[citation needed] The flight test programme came to a close during Autumn 1977.[4]
On 18August 1978;46 years ago(1978-08-18), the first production aircraft made its first flight.[1] On 5 December of that year, Switzerland's Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) issued civil certification for the PC-7;[4] immediately thereafter, initial deliveries of production aircraft commenced to customers Burma and Bolivia.[6] Over time, sales of the PC-7 generated considerable profits, allowing the company to finance the development of further types of aircraft.[7]
Further development
The PC-7 Mk.IIM is a development of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, which was powered by the PC-7's smaller turbine engine, which reportedly achieved lower operating and maintenance costs.[citation needed] This variant was developed at the behest of the South African Air Force (SAAF), who later adopted the type.[8] A batch of 60 PC-7 Mk.IIMs were locally assembled in South Africa using kits supplied by Pilatus for the SAAF; due to political considerations, these aircraft were not fitted with the armament hardpoints. Deliveries to the SAAF took place between late 1994 and 1996.[4]
In addition to Pilatus' own improvement programmes, several third-party companies have independently developed their own upgrades for customer's PC-7. During the late 1990s, Israeli engineering firm Radom began offering a kit of new avionics for the type, which included a new mission computer, a wide-angle head-up display, along with various replacement communications and weapons-delivery systems.[9]
During July 1998, Pilatus announced that it has come to an agreement with American company Western Aircraft, for the latter to act as a distributor for the PC-7 across the North American civil aviation market.[10] At this time, there were already five civil-registered PC-7s in operation in North America; Pilatus believed that the region could be a viable market for both remanufactured and newly built examples of the type, which would be priced between $1million and $2million respectively. It was recognised that this market was limited, Western Aircraft expected to sell only a few aircraft per year.[10]
Operational history
General use
All export sales of the PC-7 are subject to approval by the Swiss Government, whose authorisation is required prior to any delivery taking place.[11] The sale of combat-capable aircraft has been a controversial matter at times, and political pressure has been applied for PC-7s to be shipped without the fittings for armaments being installed. The Swiss government has occasionally held up or outright refused to issue export licences for some nations, a move which has reportedly led to the loss of several potential sales, such as to South Korea and Mexico.[11]
During June 2011, the Indian Air Force (IAF) selected the PC-7 Mk.IIM as its new basic trainer, signing a contract for an initial batch of 75 aircraft, with an option for buying an additional 38 PC-7 Mk.IIMs; the Indian military had a total requirement of 181 trainers.[14] The fast-tracked decision to procure a foreign aircraft over a domestically developed alternative proposed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was a controversial one; retired Air MarshalAnil Chopra argued that HAL had no viable design for the role, and that the IAF could not have reasonably afforded the delay involved in the development of such an aircraft.[15] The procurement of an additional 106 trainers under the 'Make & Buy' (Indian) category was repeatedly deferred. In 2017, the maintenance agreement with Pilatus lapsed, resulting in the IAF becoming solely responsible for performing these activities.[16] In 2018, India announced that it had chosen to exercise the option of buying a batch of 38 trainers.[17] However, as of 2020, the additional orders for PC-7 airrcaftf from IAF were cancelled in favour of the indigenous HAL HTT-40 from Hindustan Aeronautics, the orders for which was placed in 2022.[18][19]
During the lengthy Iran–Iraq War of the 1980s, amid tensions between Iran and the United States, it is alleged that Iranian officials threatened to arm its PC-7 fleet with explosives and use them to launch suicide attacks against United States Navy (USN) vessels present in the Persian Gulf.[21] Iran reportedly trained a number of suicide pilots and flew some operational missions, training was performed at Bushehr Air Base in Iran and overseas in North Korea.[22][23] In early 1984, an Iranian attack helicopter AH-1J Sea Cobra was shot down by an Iraqi PC-7 during Operation Khyber (Iranian pilots Reza Moghadam and Mohammad Yazdi were rescued).[24]
In 1994, the Mexican Air Force used several armed PC-7s to attack units of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation during the Chiapas conflict in Mexico. This action was considered illegal by the Swiss government because the aeroplanes were sold for training purposes only, and as result, Switzerland issued a ban on the sale of additional units to Mexico.[25] At the time, the Mexican Air Force was the largest single export operator of the type, and had been seeking to acquire further PC-7s, thus the sales ban was viewed as an economic blow to Pilatus.[11]
During the late 2000s, the Chadian Air Force reportedly used its small fleet of PC-7s to bomb rebel positions both in their own territory and in neighbouring Sudan.[28] The Swiss government summoned the Chad's ambassador to request an explanation for these reports, as these actions breached the export agreements previously struck for the sale of the type to Chad.[29]
Variants
PC-7: two-seat basic trainer aircraft, powered by PT6A-25A engine rated at 410 kilowatts (550 shaft horsepower).[30]
PC-7 Mk.II M: 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 kilowatts (700 shaft horsepower) rather than more powerful PT6A-62 of PC-9.[31] Developed for the South African Air Force (SAAF), and known as the 'Astra'; the aircraft is a hybrid PC-7 and PC-9, either a PC-7 'Heavy' or a PC-9 'Lite', depending on point of configuration.[1]
NCPC-7: upgraded version of the standard PC-7 with fully IFRglass cockpit avionics, developed for the Swiss Air Force. The designation NCPC-7 has been provisionally used in the Swiss Air Force to differentiate modernized PC-7s (NC for New Cockpit) from those which were not yet done. It was removed after the improvement of the last of the 28 aircraft in 2009. Consequently, all the Turbo-Trainer took again the designation PC-7.[32]
PC-7 WE: upgraded variant of the NCPC-7 for the Swiss Air Force that includes: modification of the communication system, a TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system), ADF system extended (radiocompas), complete disassembly of the avionic and antennas to check for problems, complete disassembly and reassembly of the cables and repairs.[33]
PC-7 MKX: an updated version of the PC-7 Mk.II, with new avionics, cockpit displays, and integration with the ground-based training system (GBTS). The GBTS includes computer and simulator technology, along with new tools such as virtual reality and mixed reality. PC-7 MKX was announced at the Dubai Airshow in November 2021.[34][35]
Operators
Main countries in which the Swiss Pilatus PC-7 aircraft operates in the world.
National Air Force of Angola: 12 PC-7 ordered in 1981, with deliveries starting in 1982, 8 others delivered in 1990. 5 aircraft lost. 16 PC-7 in service in 1994, 9 in 2003, 5 in 2016.[36]
Botswana Defence Force Air Wing: seven PC-7 (delivered from 1990) aircraft in service as of October 2008,[41] to be replaced by five PC-7 Mk.IIM in 2013;[42] five PC-7 Mk.IIM aircraft formally accepted into service on 8 February 2013, removing six original PC-7s from service.[43]
Royal Malaysian Air Force: 30 PC-7 Turbo Trainers out of a first order of 44 (delivered from 1983), 45 PC-7 aircraft in service as of October 2008;[56] 17 PC-7 Mk.IIM out of a second order of 19 (delivered in two batches, nine from 2001 and ten from 2007); total of 47 currently in service; the type is also used by the Taming Sariaerobatic display team.
Myanmar Air Force: first customer of the PC-7, deliveries in early 1979, 17 PC-7 aircraft in service as of October 2008,[59] 16 aircraft remain in service as of December 2021.[60]
Royal Netherlands Air Force: 13 PC-7 (first generation) aircraft in service, that will be replaced by 8 PC-7 MKX that were selected in October 2024, and with 2 simulators.[61]
South African Air Force: first customer of the PC-7 Mk.IIM delivered 30 November 1994, 60 PC-7 Mk.IIM aircraft in service as of October 2008,[62] the type is also used by the Silver Falconsaerobatic display team.
Swiss Air Force: 40 PC-7 aircraft delivered from 1979 that remained in service as of October 2008[63][64] Nine have been used by the aerobatic display team PC-7 Team since 1989.
28 PC-7 upgraded with new cockpit in service in 2011 (standard NCPC).[65] As of 2024, 27 remain in service. RUAG and Pilatus have been tasked to modernise the fleet to the standard PC-7 WE (valuation programme). The intention is to keep it in service until 2040.[66][33]
French Air and Space force and French Naval Aviation: 22 PC-7 MKX ordered as primary trainer with 12 simulators developed by Exail in December 2024. It will replace the Cirrus SR20 and the Grob G120A. Pilatus won the programme "Mentor 2". Babcock France will provide the training for the French military.[71]
The South African Air Force (SAAF) grounded their fleet of PC-7 Mk.IIM aircraft 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, 58, died shortly after the crash. The aircraft was flying to Langebaanweg Air Force Base for maintenance but shortly after takeoff it rolled and flew into the ground. The cause is believed[by whom?] to have been 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 Royal Malaysian Air Force PC-7 aircraft.[77]
In June 2010, two Mexican pilots were killed when their Mexican Air Force PC-7 crashed after taking off from Pie de la Cuesta, a district in the resort city of Acapulco, Mexico. The PC-7 crashed into the sea near Acapulco.[78][79]
On 20 October 2011, two PC-7s of the Botswana Defence Force were involved in a mid-air collision over Letlhakeng 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Gaborone. Two of the four aircrew involved were killed in the accident.[80]
On 4 December 2023, a PC-7 of the Indian Air Force crashed in Medak, Telangana, India. Both pilots died in the crash. The aircraft had taken off on a training flight from Hyderabad. The crash is currently under investigation.[82]
Range: 1,200km (750mi, 650nmi) standard range without external drop tanks, ferry range with external drop tanks, (cruise power, at 5,000m (16,000ft) - 20 min reserves)
Ferry range: 2,630km (1,630mi, 1,420nmi)
Endurance: 4 hr 22 min
Service ceiling: 10,060m (33,010ft)
g limits: -3 / +6
Rate of climb: 10.9m/s (2,150ft/min) climb to 5,000 m in 9 min 0 sec take-off run 780 m at max take-off weight, landing run 505 m at max landing weight
Armament
Hardpoints: 6 × underwing hardpoints for bombs and rockets with a capacity of 1,040 kg (2,294 lb)[84]
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