Pilatus PC-9/A Trainer
The Royal Australian Air Force's Pilatus PC-9/A two-seat single-engine turboprop aircraft is the major basic training aircraft of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It is flown
by:
- Central Flying School at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, where
ADF fixed-wing flying instructors are trained
- No 2 Flying Training
School at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia, where ADF pilots are
trained to 'wings' stage
- Forward Air Control Development Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, to train Joint Terminal Attack Controllers.
The PC-9/A is best known to the public as the aircraft flown by the Air Force Roulettes in aerobatic displays at major events throughout Australia. Central Flying School pilots fly six aircraft that comprise the team as a
secondary role to their instructional tasks. Central Flying School
trains Navy and Air Force pilots to become flying instructors.
At RAAF Base Pearce, trainee ADF pilots, having successfully
completed the Basic Flying Course at the ADF Basic Flying Training
School at Tamworth, undertake the Advanced Flying Training Course with
No 2 Flying Training School, during which they fly 130 hours in the
PC-9/A. Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded their wings
and posted to a flying squadron.
There are also four modified PC-9/A(F) aircraft in grey paintwork
fitted with smoke grenade dispensers for target marking. These aircraft
are based at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, and are used to
train ADF Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs, formerly forward
air controllers), who coordinate air support to troops on the ground.
The PC-9/A, designed by Pilatus Switzerland and built under license by Hawker
de Havilland in Sydney, was introduced to the Air Force in 1987. Pilot training
in the aircraft commenced in 1989.
Related links
Pilatus PC-9/A technical specifications
| Manufacturer |
Pilatus |
| Role |
Two-seat advanced trainer; forward air control and aerobatics |
| Crew |
Two; instructor and student or pilot and observer |
| Engine |
Pratt and Whitney PT6A-62 turboprop (950 shaft horsepower) |
| Airframe |
Length: 10.18m Height: 3.28m |
| Wingspan |
10.24m |
| Weight |
2250kg basic, 2710kg maximum (PC-9/A (F) max 3210kg) |
| Range |
1,850km (with two underwing tanks), combat radius 650km |
| Ceiling |
25,000 feet |
| Weapons |
Two underwing smoke grenade launchers |
| Avionics |
VHF omni-directional range/ instrument landing system, two multi-functional
cathode ray tube displays |
