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.
- Role: Light Trainer aircraft
- Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft
- Designer: Pilatus Aircraft
- First flight: 12 April 1966 (prototype), 18 August 1978 (production)
- Produced: 1966 – present
- Status: Active service
- Number built: 618
- Developed from: Pilatus P-3
- Developed into: Pilatus PC-9
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.
- NCPC-7 : upgraded version of the standard PC-7 with fully IFR glass cockpit avionics, developed for the Swiss Air Force.
Military operators
- National Air Force of Angola: 25
- Austrian Air Force: 16
- Bolivian Air Force: 24
- Botswana Defence Force Air Wing: 7 PC-7, 5 PC-7 MK II
- Royal Brunei Air Force: 4
- Chad Air Force: 2
- Chilean Navy: 10
- Guatemalan Air Force: 12
- Indian Air Force: 75
- Iran Air Force: 35
- Royal Malaysian Air Force:47
- Mexican Air Force: 88
- Myanmar Air Force: 17
- Royal Netherlands Air Force: 13
- South African Air Force: 60
- Swiss Air Force: 40 (delivered from 1979), 28 NCPC-7s in service in 2011
- United Arab Emirates Air Force: 7
- Uruguayan Air Force: 6
Former military operators
- Bophuthatswana Air Force: 3
- French Air Force: 5
- Iraq Air Force: 52
- Nigerian Air Force: 2
- Surinam Air Force: 3
Specifications (PC-7)
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)
