Pilatus Switserland
Pilatus PC-7 Trainer
Switserland Aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 Trainer
Pilatus Aircraft
Pilatus PC-2 – Pilatus PC-3 – Pilatus PC-6
Pilatus PC-7 – Pilatus PC-9 – Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus PC-21 – Pilatus PC-24
Pilatus
The Pilatus PC-7 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.
The Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft designed and manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying.
Operational History
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.[10] 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 lead to the loss of several potential sales, such as to South Korea and Mexico.
| Role | Light trainer aircraft |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Pilatus Aircraft |
| First flight | 12 April 1966 (prototype) 18 August 1978 (production) |
| Introduction | 1978 |
| Status | In service, in production |
| Primary users | Indian Air Force Mexican 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 |
Operators
Former military operators
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- Three (delivered from 1989, later transferred to South Africa and subsequently served in the Sierra Leone civil war and Chad)
Iraq
- Iraq Air Force: 52 (delivered from 1980)
- Nigerian Air Force had two aircraft in service.
Former civil operators
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 (178.7 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 6.5:1
- Airfoil: NACA 642A-415 at root, 641A-612 at tip
- Empty weight: 1,330 kg (2,932 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 474 L (104 imp gal; 125 US gal) usable internal fuel
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25A turboprop, 410 kW (550 shp) (derated from 480 kW (650 shp))
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-B3TN-2/T10173C-8 constant-speed propeller, 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) diameter
Performance
Performance
- Maximum speed: 412 km/h (256 mph, 222 kn) (max cruise at 6,100 m (20,000 ft))
- Cruise speed: 171 km/h (106 mph, 92 kn) (econ. cruise at 6,100 m (20,000 ft))
- Stall speed: 119 km/h (74 mph, 64 kn) (flaps and gear down, power off)
- Never exceed speed: 500 km/h (310 mph, 270 kn) EAS
- Range: 2,630 km (1,630 mi, 1,420 nmi) (cruise power, at 5,000 m (16,000 ft) – 20 min reserves)
- Endurance: 3 hr 45 min
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.9 m/s (2,150 ft/min)
Armament
- Hardpoints: 6 × hardpoints for bombs and rockets with a capacity of 1,040 kg (2,294 lb)[
Related
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Aircrafttoaal encyclopedia
The company has mostly produced aircraft for niche markets, in particular short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft as well as military training aircraft. During the 1950s and 1960s, Pilatus developed on a short takeoff and landing (STOL) light civil transport aircraft, the PC-6 Porter. During 1973, it was decided to restart work on the PC-7 programme; it entered production as the PC-7 Turbo Trainer. In 1979, Pilatus acquired Britten-Norman, constructor of the Britten-Norman Islander and Britten-Norman Defender aircraft. During the 1980s, it developed the PC-9, an improved derivative of the PC-7.