Pilatus PC-21

The Pilatus PC-21 is an a single-turboprop, low swept-wing monoplane advanced trainer with a stepped tandem cockpit manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.

Features

The PC-21 has an ultra-modern cockpit, which arguably surpasses even those of latest-generation fighters like the Eurofighter and the Gripen. Standard features are three large colour liquid crystal displays (LCD), a head-up display (HUD) and Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) controls.

Development

The development of the PC-21 officially started in November 1997, when Pilatus first flew a modified PC-7 Mk.II in order to test various improvements for a next generation turboprop trainer. As a result of these tests being concluded successfully, Pilatus decided to privately fund the development of a new advanced training system in November 1998. Full-scale development of what became known as the PC-21 was subsequently started in January 1999.

Roll-out of the first 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 first flew on 7 June 2004.

Users

At the time of the roll-out of the first prototype, there were no known customers for this aircraft. As far as is known, as of the time of the writing of this article (August 2004), this situation has not changed.

Specifications (Pilatus PC-21)

General Characteristics

Crew: two, student and instructor
Length: 11.19 m (36 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 8.77 m (28 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.91 m (12 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 14.9 m² (160 ft²)
Empty: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
Loaded: 3,100 kg (6,834 lb)
Maximum takeoff: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B, 1,200 kW (1,600 shp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 685 km/h (428 mph)
Range: 1,295 km (805 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

five hardpoints for bombs and rockets