Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Type: Trainer Aircraft
Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft
Pilatus PC-21 Aircraft Overview
The Pilatus PC-21 is an advanced turboprop trainer aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft, a Swiss aerospace company. It is designed to provide military pilot training for basic and advanced flight skills, including handling, navigation, and tactical training. The PC-21 is considered one of the most advanced trainer aircraft in the world.
The PC-21 features a sleek and aerodynamic design with a low-wing configuration. It is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop engine, which provides high performance and efficiency. The aircraft is equipped with a digital avionics suite and advanced systems that simulate various mission scenarios, allowing pilots to train in a realistic and immersive environment.
One of the key features of the PC-21 is its integrated training system. It incorporates a fully digital cockpit, advanced mission sensors, and data recording capabilities, enabling instructors to monitor and evaluate trainee performance in real-time. The aircraft also has a high level of versatility, capable of simulating different aircraft types and systems, making it suitable for a wide range of training requirements.
The PC-21 offers excellent performance characteristics, including high speed, agility, and maneuverability. It can perform aerobatic maneuvers and has a pressurized cockpit, allowing for high-altitude training. Additionally, the PC-21 has an ejection seat and other safety features to ensure the well-being of the trainee pilots.
The Pilatus PC-21 has been selected by several air forces around the world, including the Swiss Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force, and United Arab Emirates Air Force, among others, for their primary flight training and advanced pilot training programs.
Pilatus PC-21 Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 11.233 m (36 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 9.108 m (29 ft 11 in)
- Height: 3.74 m (12 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 15.221 m2 (163.84 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,004 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,100 kg (6,834 lb) aerobatic. 4,250 kg (9,370 lb) normal
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 hp)
- Propellers: 5-bladed constant-speed propeller, 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) diameter
Pilatus PC-21 Performance
- Maximum speed: 685 km/h (426 mph, 370 kn)
- Stall speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn) gear and flaps up (20 km/h (12 mph; 11 kn) less with flaps and gear down)
- Range: 1,333 km (828 mi, 720 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 11,580 m (37,990 ft)
- g limits: +8.0 –4.0 aerobatic / +5.0 to –2.5 utility
- Rate of climb: 20.317 m/s (3,999.4 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 208 kg/m2 (43 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.39 kW/kg (0.24 hp/lb)
Pilatus PC-21 Armament
- Hardpoints: Provisions provided for 4× under-wing and 1× centerline external store stations, capable of mounting up to 1,150 kg (2,540 lb) of the payload of air-to-ground weapons to operate in the counter-insurgency role.
