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Pilatus PC-7

1978 COLD WAR MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of Pilatus PC-7

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. was founded in neutral Switzerland in December 1939, at the beginning of World War II (1939-1945). The company was originally formed to provide logistical and maintenance support to the Swiss Air Force in combat in Europe. The company has survived these humble beginnings - and has grown to become one of the leading suppliers of first-class basic trainer aircraft for the military and civilian sectors.

Launched in 1978, the PC-7 is one of the company's success stories, with more than 600 prototypes sold and operating around the world, from Angola and Austria to the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

On April 12, 1966, a prototype made its maiden flight based largely on the early 1956 P-3 design. The series was officially released on August 18, 1978. A crash during development caused the program to be suspended until 1973, so the gap between prototype and series release was wide.

The PC-7 uses a tried and true (if entirely traditional) arrangement. The hull has a smooth profile with board edges, the engine is mounted in the forward compartment, and the stern section tapers at the stern. The two crew members sat side by side above the midship.

The canopy is a long-running lightweight frame component that provides the best possible view of what is happening in front of and around the aircraft. Flight controls are redundant on both cockpit seats, allowing students and instructors to share control of the aircraft as needed. The main plane of the wing is mounted low on the side of the fuselage. The empennage contains a rudder and low-level horizontal stabilizers.

The chassis has a wheeled tricycle arrangement that fully retracts into the structure.

Dimensions include a length of 32 feet, a wingspan of 34 feet, and a height of 10.5 feet. Curb weight is 3,000 lbs and MTOW is 6,000 lbs. Power comes from a 550 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25 series turboprop engine (depending on model).

Performance includes a top speed of 255 mph, a range of up to 1,635 miles, and a service ceiling of nearly 33,000 feet. The climb rate is 2,150 feet per minute.

In addition to the basic training role given, the PC-7 considers the service as a light strike/riot platform (six hardpoints exist, with a total gun weight of 2,295 lbs). This was the case when the Iraqi Air Force PC-7 was used against neighboring Iran during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.

Other operators, such as Chad, Guatemala and Mexico, have also equipped these small aircraft with ammunition - usually machine gun pods, rocket pods and conventionally dropped bombs ("duds") - demonstrating the versatility of these craft . In addition to training and combat roles, the PC-7 is a durable, high-performance aerobatics platform.

The PC-7 designation identifies the original two-seater trainer with a 500 hp engine produced by Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25A. The PC-7 Mk II appeared to meet the requirements of the South African Air Force (SAAF) and is an improved form of the frame and avionics based on the PC-9 product, reminiscent of the PC-7's original main wing aircraft (supporting underwing munitions) . ). The model is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25C engine with 700 hp, which is considered an economical engine compared to other turboprop trainers.

The engine drives a four-bladed aluminum Hartzell propeller assembly.

The NCPC-7 designation is used for the aircraft of the Swiss Air Force, which is based on the modern PC-7 model with an all-glass cockpit and state-of-the-art avionics.