Pilatus PC-9

The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.

Design and development
The PC-9 is a more powerful evolution of the PC-7. It retains the overall layout of its predecessor, but it has very little structural commonality with it. Amongst other improvements, the PC-9 features a larger cockpit with stepped ejection seats and also has a ventral airbrake.

The PC-9 program officially started in 1982. Although some aerodynamic elements were tested on a PC-7 during 1982 and 1983, the first flight of the first PC-9 prototype took place on 7 May 1984. A second prototype flew on 20 July of the same year; this prototype had all the standard electronic flight instrumentation and environmental control systems installed and was thus almost fully representative of the production version.

Certification was achieved in September 1985. By this time, the PC-9 had lost the RAF trainer competition to the Short Tucano. However, the marketing links that Pilatus built up with British Aerospace during the competition stood them in good stead, as it soon led to their first order from Saudi Arabia.

, more than 250 aircraft of this type have been built.

Operational history
The first production aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew on 19 May 1987, under the Australian designation PC-9/A.

Condor of Germany uses 10 examples of the target-towing variant.

Variants



 * PC-9
 * Two-seat basic trainer aircraft.


 * PC-9/A
 * Two-seat basic trainer for the Royal Australian Air Force. Built under licence in Australia by Hawker de Havilland. Croatia ordered three second-hand examples from the RAAF in 1997.


 * PC-9B
 * Two-seat target-towing aircraft for the German Luftwaffe. This target-towing version has an increased fuel capacity enabling flight for up to 3 hours and 20 minutes as well as two Southwest RM-24 winches under the wings. These winches can reel out a target up to 3.5 kilometres.


 * PC-9M:
 * This version was introduced in 1997 as the new standard model. It has an enlarged dorsal fin in order to improve longitudinal stability, modified wingroot fairings, stall strips on the leading edges as well as new engine and propeller controls. Croatia bought 17 new examples in 1997; Slovenia placed an order for nine (nicknamed Hudournik – "Swift") in December of the same year; Oman ordered 12 examples in January 1999; and Ireland signed a contract for eight in January 2003. Bulgaria purchased 12 aircraft in 2004. The last order was made by Mexico, which received at least two in September 2006.


 * Beech Pilatus PC-9 Mk.2
 * In order to compete in the United States JPATS competition, Pilatus and Beechcraft developed an extensively modified version of the PC-9, initially called the Beech Pilatus PC-9 Mk. II which won out over seven other contenders. It was later renamed the Beechcraft T-6A Texan II and is now built and marketed independently by Beechcraft. Over 700 are to be built for the United States Air Force and United States Navy, with Pilatus receiving royalties.

Military operators

 * Royal Australian Air Force operates 67 aircraft – two were supplied directly by Pilatus, 17 were assembled from Pilatus-supplied kits and 48 were built in Australia by Hawker de Havilland. The type is also used by the Roulettes aerobatic display team of the RAAF.
 * Bulgarian Air Force operates six aircraft delivered in 2004.
 * Croatian Air Force operates 20 aircraft – 17 PC-9M delivered new from 1997, as well as three second-hand examples. PC-9s are used for advanced pilot training and as a national aerobatic aircraft in a group called Wings of Storm.
 * Chad's Air Force operates three PC-7s and one PC-9. The latter was delivered to Chad to replace a PC-7 which it had purchased from France.
 * 🇨🇾 Cyprus
 * Cyprus Air Forces
 * Irish Air Corps operates seven PC-9Ms delivered in late 2004. In 2005, the aircraft were upgraded and each aircraft is now equipped with two rocket pods and two machine gun pods. On 12 October 2009, a PC-9M was involved in a fatal crash near Cornamona, in County Galway, which killed both pilots.
 * Mexican Air Force received two aircraft in 2006.
 * Myanmar Air Force received 10 aircraft delivered from April 1986.
 * Royal Air Force of Oman operates 12 aircraft delivered from 1999 to March 2000.
 * Royal Saudi Air Force operates 50 aircraft delivered from December 1986. These examples were sold via British Aerospace.
 * Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence operates 11 aircraft, designated PC-9M Hudournik. Three aircraft delivered from 1995 (one was lost in a crash in 2004) and nine aircraft delivered from November 1998. These examples have been upgraded by RADOM Aviation in Israel.
 * Swiss Air Force operates 14 aircraft delivered from 1987. Two returned to Pilatus after evaluation.
 * Royal Thai Air Force operates 23 aircraft delivered from 1991.
 * Myanmar Air Force received 10 aircraft delivered from April 1986.
 * Royal Air Force of Oman operates 12 aircraft delivered from 1999 to March 2000.
 * Royal Saudi Air Force operates 50 aircraft delivered from December 1986. These examples were sold via British Aerospace.
 * Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence operates 11 aircraft, designated PC-9M Hudournik. Three aircraft delivered from 1995 (one was lost in a crash in 2004) and nine aircraft delivered from November 1998. These examples have been upgraded by RADOM Aviation in Israel.
 * Swiss Air Force operates 14 aircraft delivered from 1987. Two returned to Pilatus after evaluation.
 * Royal Thai Air Force operates 23 aircraft delivered from 1991.
 * Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence operates 11 aircraft, designated PC-9M Hudournik. Three aircraft delivered from 1995 (one was lost in a crash in 2004) and nine aircraft delivered from November 1998. These examples have been upgraded by RADOM Aviation in Israel.
 * Swiss Air Force operates 14 aircraft delivered from 1987. Two returned to Pilatus after evaluation.
 * Royal Thai Air Force operates 23 aircraft delivered from 1991.
 * Swiss Air Force operates 14 aircraft delivered from 1987. Two returned to Pilatus after evaluation.
 * Royal Thai Air Force operates 23 aircraft delivered from 1991.
 * Royal Thai Air Force operates 23 aircraft delivered from 1991.

Former Military operators

 * National Air Force of Angola
 * Luftwaffe
 * United States Army operated three PC-9 from 1991–96 as chase and test aircraft, and sold to Slovenia in 1995.
 * Luftwaffe
 * United States Army operated three PC-9 from 1991–96 as chase and test aircraft, and sold to Slovenia in 1995.
 * United States Army operated three PC-9 from 1991–96 as chase and test aircraft, and sold to Slovenia in 1995.

Civil operators

 * Condor Flugdienst operated 10 aircraft for target-towing duties.
 * BAE Systems operated two development aircraft in support of the Royal Saudi Air Force contract.
 * BAE Systems operated two development aircraft in support of the Royal Saudi Air Force contract.
 * BAE Systems operated two development aircraft in support of the Royal Saudi Air Force contract.

Accidents and incidents
In 2004, a Slovenian air force PC-9 crashed in Lenart, resulting in the death of Maj. Drago Svetina.

In 2008, a pilot candidate ejected from a Slovenian air force PC-9, the aircraft was not damaged and returned safely at Cerklje ob Krki Airbase.

On 12 October 2009, a PC-9M belonging to the Irish Air Corps was involved in a fatal crash near Connemara, in County Galway, which killed both pilots. The accident report stated that the accident was probably caused by controlled flight into terrain following the loss of situational awareness.

A PC-9/A flown by the RAAF Roulettes crashed at RAAF Base East Sale on 18 May 2011 after suffering engine failure. Both occupants were able to eject prior to the aircraft impacting the ground. The incident resulted in the RAAF suspending all flights of the PC-9/A while it carried out an investigation. The aircraft were cleared to fly again at the end of June 2011.