Pilatus PC-21
| PC-21 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The PC-21 demonstrator lands at RIAT 2008, England. | |
| Role | Basic & Advanced Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Pilatus Aircraft |
| Designer | Pilatus Aircraft |
| First flight | 1 July 2002 |
| Introduction | April 2008 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Swiss Air Force Republic of Singapore Air Force United Arab Emirates Air Force |
| Number built | +26 |
The Pilatus PC-21 is a single-turboprop, low wing swept monoplane advanced trainer with a stepped tandem cockpit manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.
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[edit] Development
In November 1997 Pilatus flew a modified PC-7 Mk.II in order to test improvements for a next generation turboprop trainer. As a result of these tests, Pilatus funded the development of a new training system in November 1998. Development of the PC-21 started in January 1999. Roll-out of the PC-21 prototype was on 30 April 2002 at Pilatus' factory in Stans, Switzerland, with the first flight taking place on 1 July of the same year. The second PC-21 prototype flew on 7 June 2004. One of the prototypes, HB-HZB, crashed on 13 January 2005, in Buochs, Switzerland on an aerobatic training flight, killing the pilot and injuring another person on the ground. The other prototypes: HB-HZA, HB-HZC and HB-HZD, are still flying.
[edit] Design
The PC-21 is a completely new aircraft design.[1] The aircraft features a tandem-seating arrangement (student in-front/instructor behind) in a bird strike resistant glass canopy with all round vision, glass cockpit with three large colour liquid crystal displays (LCD), head-up displays (HUD), Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) controls and Zero-zero ejection seats for student and instructor.
[edit] Operational history
Six PC-21 have been delivered to the Swiss Air Force, the first four being delivered in April 2008.[2] In December 2010, the Swiss air force ordered another two.[3]
On 21 January 2008, the first PC-21 for the Republic of Singapore Air Force completed its flight test prior to being accepted into service.[4] On 13 July 2008, the type began to provide the RSAF with basic flying training.[5] A further six aircraft have now been delivered with the remaining seven expected to be delivered in August 2008.[5]
During the 2009 Dubai Airshow, UAE announced an order of 25 PC-21 for the United Arab Emirates Air Force to replace their aging fleet of Pilatus PC-7s.[6] UAEAF's first PC-21 made its maiden on 22 November 2010, deliveries expected to commence from first quarter of 2011.[7]
The PC-21 has been offered to the Royal Australian Air Force as part of project AIR 5428 to replace its Pilatus PC-9s.[8] Moreover, the PC-21 has been evaluated by the Spanish Air Force, along the T-6 Texan II and the PZL-130 Orlik III, as a possible sustitute for its ENAER T-35 Pillan and CASA C-101 Aviojet trainer aircraft.[9]
[edit] Operators
- Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)
- 130 Eagle Sqn - 19× PC-21s operating in the basic training role by the RSAF Flight Training School based at RAAF Base Pearce in Australia.[10] The squadron has transitioned from the SIAI-Marchetti S.211 (in service with the RSAF since 1984) beginning June 2008.[4]
- Swiss Air Force operates six PC-21s for advanced training with a further two on order.[11] They replaced the Hawk which had been retired from 2003.
- United Arab Emirates Air Force: 25× PC-21 on order,[6] first flight made on 22 November 2010 with delivery expected to commence from first quarter of 2011.[7]
[edit] Specifications (PC-21)
Data from Pilatus Aircraft[12]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two (student & instructor)
- Length: 11.233 m (36 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 9.108 m (29 ft 11 in)
- Height: 3.749 m (12 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 15.221 m² (163.848 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,005 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 3,100 kg (aerobatic) / 4,250 kg (utility) (6,834 lb (aerobatic) / 9,370 lb (utility))
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B Turboprop engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 shp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 685 km/h (370 knots, 428 mph)
- Stall speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106.25 mph) gear and flaps up (20 km/h less with flaps and gear down)
- Range: 1,333 km (720 nm, 828 miles)
- Service ceiling: 11,580 m (38,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 1,219 m/min (4,000 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 208 kg/m² (42.7 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.39 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Armament
- Hardpoints: Provisions provided for 4× under-wing and 1× centerline external store stations, capable of mounting up to 1,150 kg (2,500 lb) of payload of air-to-ground weapons to operate in the Counter-insurgency role.
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ "PC-21: Aircraft Data". Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "Acceptance of the first four Pilatus PC-21 by armasuisse" (Press release). Swiss Federation. http://www.news.admin.ch/message/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=18550. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "defence.professionals". 2010-12-18. http://www.defpro.com/news/details/20711/. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ^ a b "RSAF Pilatus PC-21 Makes its Maiden Flight" (Press release). Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). 15 February 2008. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2008/feb/15feb08_nr2.html. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ a b "Basic Flying Training on the Pilatus PC-21 Aircraft Trainer Commences" (Press release). MINDEF. 13 July 2008. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2008/jul/13jul08_nr.html. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ a b Hoyle, Craig (17 November 2009). "Dubai 09: UAE signs deal for 25 PC-21 trainers". http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/11/17/335112/dubai-09-uae-signs-deal-for-25-pc-21-trainers.html. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ a b "UAE's first PC-21 flown". Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing Ltd) (274): page 26. February 2011. ISSN 09557091.
- ^ Pittaway 2010, p. 20.
- ^ "Evaluación del PC-21 Pilatus como entrenador Elemental/Básico/Avanzado", Ejército del Aire de España (Revista de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica) (778), noviembre de 2008
- ^ Airforces Monthly June 2008
- ^ "Swiss military aviation OrBat". MilAviaPress.com. http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/switzerland/index.php. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "Pilatus: PC-21 fact sheet" (PDF). Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/00-def/main/scripts/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Downloads/Brochures/Pilatus%20Aircraft%20Ltd%20-%20PC-21%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- Bibliography
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pilatus PC-21 |
- http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com
- http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/pc_21
- Republic of Singapore Air Force factsheet: Pilatus PC-21
- Cyberpioneer, Singapore Armed Forces web publication on Pilatus PC-21
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