Over 200 of the stellar Pilatus PC-21 advanced trainers have been committed to by various air services of the world - including France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
Since founded in December of 1939, Pilatus has made a name for itself as a preeminent designer, developer and builder of high-performance basic / advanced turbo-prop-powered flight trainer aircraft. This now includes the PC-7, PC-9 and PC-12 series among others, many used in civilian and military flying circles and some even outfitted for the light-strike role. When the company flew a revised/modified version of its PC-7 in late 1997, the initiative laid the groundwork for what became an all-new development of a modern training platform - the "PC-21".
With the success of the modified PC-7 in 1997, Pilatus undertook further development on the design as a private venture. Work began in 1998 and continued into the early part of the following decade. The result was a first-flight on July 1st, 2002. After certification the series was introduced as its own product line in April of 2008. Since then, the aircraft has been taken on by various operators around the globe - namely the Swiss Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force. As of this writing (2017), over 200 units have been committed to by various customers and over 130 examples built with production ongoing since 2002.
The PC-21 fills the gap between basic and advanced flight training, a bridge of sorts for pilots emerging from the classroom and having graduated from basic flight training and now requiring higher-performance and capabilities more on par with jet-powered platforms.
The aircraft is a trainer of all-modern design complete with all-glass cockpits, use of composites in its construction and highly streamlined aerodynamics. The high-performance aspects of the aircraft require it to have a fully-pressurized cockpit and applicable oxygen supplies for both crew and both are seated in tandem under a long-running, largely unobstructed canopy, while being given "Zero-Zero" ejection seats. To better mimic the flying conditions of jet-powered combat aircraft, the PC-21 is equipped with a Hands-On-Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) flight control arrangement and Head-up Displays (HUDs).
The fuselage is designed with a slim appearance and is well-contoured for the speeds at play. The wing mainplanes are situated at midships with the tail unit relying on a single vertical fin and low-set horizontal planes. The undercarriage, wholly retractable and wheeled at all three members, is of a tricycle arrangement. Dimensions include a length of 36.10 feet, a wingspan of 29.10 feet and a height of 12.3 feet. Empty weight is 5,000lb against an MTOW of 9,370lb. Power to the aircraft comes from a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop engine developing 1,600 horsepower and driving a five-bladed (Hartzell) propeller unit at the nose. Maximum speed is 428 miles per hour with a range of 828 miles and a service ceiling reaching 38,000 feet. Rate-of-climb is 4,000 feet-per-minute.
The PC-21 can be outfitted with basic stores across four underwing (two per wing) hardpoints and a fuselage centerline location. Collectively these points are rated for up to 2,540lb of conventional drop ordnance, machine gun pods, rocket pods and fuel tanks.
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December 2016 - A deal between the French Air Force and Pilatus has been announced covering between twenty and twenty-five total PC-21 aircraft. The fleet will be used as intermediate trainers to the more advanced Alpha Jet advanced jet trainer fleet. Alpha Jet trainers are used by the French Air Force to cover the nuances of high-speed, jet-powered flight before transitioning to the much more-advanced Dassault Rafael multirole fighter platform.
January 2018 - British PC-21s intended for its Empire Test Pilots' School were identified conducting ground testing.
August 2018 - The French Air Force has accepted a pair of PC-21 aircraft on August 30th.
September 2018 - The French Air Force is set to introduce the PC-21 into service on October 2nd, 2018. Seventeen aircraft are part of the deal in which final deliveries will be had by February 2019.
December 2019 - The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has taken final deliveries of its ordered PC-21 trainer stock.
February 2020 - Spain has signed a contract for the procurement of 24 PC-21 light aircraft to serve in the basic/advanced training role. These will succeed an aging line of Cold War-era CASA C-101 Advanced Jet Trainers. The PC-21 was selected ahead of the American Beechcraft T-6 an the Brazilian EMB-314 "Super Tucano". The initial aircraft will be delivered sometime in 2020 with operational service slated to begin as soon as 2021.
December 2020 - The initial PC-21 bound for the Spanish Air Force (intended for use in training) has entered the ground-testing phase.
July 2021 - The French Air Force has committed to the purchase of nine more PC-21 trainers.
Australia; France; Jordan; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Spain; Switzerland; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).
✓- Training (Advanced)
Dedicated advanced training platform for student pilots having graduated from basic flight training.
Length
36.9 ft (11.25 m)
Width/Span
29.9 ft (9.11 m)
Height
12.3 ft (3.75 m)
Empty Wgt
5,004 lb (2,270 kg)
MTOW
6,834 lb (3,100 kg)
Wgt Diff
+1,830 lb (+830 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Pilatus PC-21 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Pratt & Whtiney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop engine developing 1,600 horsepower driving a four-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Pilatus PC-21 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
If Armed: Up to 2,540lb of ordnance including conventional drop bombs, rocket pods and gun pods fitted across five hardpoints.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 5
PC-21 - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from official Pilatus Aircraft marketing material.
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Australia; France; Jordan; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Spain; Switzerland; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom
