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Pilatus PC-9 – Archived 10/2010
Outlook The PC-9 is not currently in production, but it is available for order from Pilatus. The company reported no new orders for PC-9s in either 2007 or 2008 The new PC-21 is the newest trainer developed by the Pilatus and makes the PC-9 largely superfluous in Pilatus lineup No new production of PC-9 currently forecast
Orientation Description. Tandem-seat, single-engine, high- Status. Production as required. performance, turboprop-powered military flight training Total Produced. Through 2007, Pilatus and Hawker aircraft. de Havilland delivered approximately 276 PC-9 aircraft. Sponsor. Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Stans, Switzerland. Application. Military primary, intermediate, Licensee. Hawker de Havilland Ltd, Bankstown, transition, aerobatic, and armament training. NSW, Australia. Hawker de Havilland was responsible Price Range. PC-9M estimated at $6.0 million, fully for final assembly, flight testing, and delivery checks, equipped, in 2009 dollars. and also produced the aircraft's wings. Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA) was responsible for the aircraft's fuselage.
Contractors Prime Pilatus Aircraft Ltd http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com, PO Box 992, Stans, 6371 Switzerland, Tel: + 41 41 619 61 11, Fax: + 41 41 610 92 30, Prime
Comprehensive information on Contractors can be found in Forecast International’s “International Contractors” series. For a detailed description, go to www.forecastinternational.com (see Products & Samples/Governments & Industries) or call + 1 (203) 426-0800. Contractors are invited to submit updated information to Editor, International Contractors, Forecast International, 22 Commerce Road, Newtown, CT 06470, USA; rich.pettibone@forecast1.com
Technical Data Metric U.S. Dimensions Length overall 10.14 m 33.25 ft Height overall 3.26 m 10.696 ft Wingspan 10.19 m 33.5 ft
Weight Basic weight, empty (typical) 1,725 kg 3,803 lb Max takeoff weight (utility) 3,200 kg 7,055 lb
Performance Max operating speed 593 kmph 320 kt Max cruise speed 502 kmph 271 kt Ceiling (with underwing stores) 12,191 m 40,000 ft Range(a) 1,593 km 860 nm Takeoff distance over 50 ft (15 m) obstacle (S/L) 397 m 1,300 ft Landing distance over 50 ft (15 m) obstacle (S/L) 687 m 2,255 ft
Propulsion PC-9M (1) UTC Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 axial-centrifugal-flow turboprop engine, flat- rated to 708.4 kW (950 shp), driving a four-bladed, constant-speed, fully feathering Hartzell propeller. PC-9 Mk II (1) PT6A-68 engine flat-rated to approximately 1,250 shp.
Armament Three hardpoints under each wing, capable of carrying 250 kg (551 lb) inboard, 110 kg (242.5 lb) center, and 110 kg (242.5 lb) on outboard pair; maximum capacity of 1,040 kg (2,993 lb).
(a) Max range at cruise power at 5,000 m (16,400 ft), 5 percent plus 20-minutes' reserve.
Variants/Upgrades PC-9/A. Pilatus designation for aircraft built under PC-9M. Improved variant with modified single-engine/ license in Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force. propeller control system to improve handling; increased-scale tailplane with larger dorsal strake for PC-9B. Specially configured PC-9 for the target- better longitudinal stability; reduced stick forces; new towing role. In service with Swiss and German air wing-root fairing to improve low-speed characteristics; forces.
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Pilatus PC-9
new T-tab at tailplane rear to facilitate trimming; and T-6A. Modified Mk II variant selected in June 1995 for exciter strips on wing leading edge for better stall the USAF/USN JPATS requirement (see "Hawker characteristics. Optional Flight Vision 2000 HUD and Beechcraft T-6A Texan" report in this tab for details). an onboard oxygen-generating system are also offered.
Program Review Background. The piston-powered Pilatus PC-3 led trainer replacement for the AST 412 competition. In directly to development of the PC-7 Turbo Trainer in that competition, however, the Shorts/Embraer team the mid-1970s, and the latter became one of the three won the award with a modified variant of the EMB 312 top turboprop-trainer aircraft in the world. Tucano. While Pilatus' success became noteworthy during the Despite the RAF's selection of the Tucano, the BAE/ late 1970s and early 1980s, the market for trainers was Pilatus team remained intact, and BAE played a major changing rapidly. New high-performance fighter and role in organizing a 30-unit sale to Saudi Arabia in 1985 light attack aircraft were entering the world's inventory as part of the Al Yamamah deal, which also involved at a frenzied pace. Consequently, training programs Tornados and Hawks. Pilatus began production of an were restructured, sometimes eliminating one or more initial 10-unit batch of PC-9s in 1985, and subsequently types. Traditionally, training began in a general logged a four-unit sale to Burma. First deliveries were aviation piston single (ab initio), and then transitioned made in 1986. to the primary trainer, usually a dedicated piston or turboprop aircraft. An intermediate stage, typically in a RAAF Order first-generation turbojet, then led to the final, advanced In December 1985, Australia chose the PC-9 as its new stage in another turbojet/turbofan aircraft. The market basic trainer and ordered 67 units. The first two were began to recognize the need to reduce the number of delivered from the Pilatus line, and the Swiss stages and aircraft to reduce both cost and time to manufacturer then shipped six units in kit form to qualification. Thus, Pilatus initiated design studies of Australia for local assembly. Nine more followed with the PC-9 trainer during the early 1980s, and the program an increased Australian content. Hawker de Havilland was officially announced in January 1984. was prime contractor, with Aerospace Technologies of The PC-9 is powered by the PT6A-62 engine, and its Australia (fuselage fabrication) and HdH Victoria max takeoff weight is 299.37 kilograms (660 lb) greater (airfoil manufacture) the major subcontractors. HdH than that of the PC-7. Other important differences from completed deliveries of Australian-built aircraft in 1992. the PC-9's predecessor include a lengthened nose and a 711 JPATS Required longer cockpit and canopy. While visible differences between the PC-9 and PC-7 do not appear to be great, The Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) the former is, in fact, an all-new design rather than a requirement is for 711 trainers to replace the U.S. reworked variant of its predecessor. The PC-9 provides Navy's T-34Cs and the Air Force's T-37s. Pilatus and the ability to go from an ab initio trainer to an advanced Beech teamed in 1990 to propose a variant of the PC-9, trainer, skipping an intermediate stage. For example, with the new variant eventually designated T-6A, and Saudi Arabia uses the PC-9 and then transitions to the this was selected as the finalist in June 1995. The T-6A Hawk for advanced training, eliminating a traditional is covered in a separate report under its current maker, step. Hawker Beechcraft. BAE and Pilatus Link for AST 412 Pilatus has since announced a much upgraded PC-21 model, incorporating some of the features of the British Aerospace and Pilatus teamed in 1984 to PC-9M. promote the PC-9 as the RAF's 150-unit Jet Provost
Funding There is no information available on Pilatus development funding. Forecast International estimates PC-9 engineering and development costs at $50 million.
Timetable Month Year Major Development Early 1980s Initial design studies Jan 1984 PC-9 announced Mar 1984 BAE/Pilatus team for AST 412 competition May 1984 Prototype first flight Sep 1985 30-unit Saudi order announced Dec 1985 RAAF contract for 67 units announced Early 1986 Initial production deliveries Dec 1987 Deliveries of HdH-built PC-9 begin Dec 1992 PC-9 Mk II production prototype first flight Jun 1995 PC-9 Mk II/T-6A selected as JPATS finalist 2000 PC-9 line believed closed down 2002 Ireland orders eight PC-9Ms Dec 2003 Bulgaria orders six PC-9Ms
Worldwide Distribution/Inventories (July 2009)
Operator Designation Quantity
Australia Air Force PC-9 65 Bulgaria Air Force PC-9M 6 Croatia Air Force PC-9M 17 Ireland Air Force PC-9 8 Mexico Air Force PC-9M 2 Myanmar Air Force PC-9 10 Oman Air Force PC-9 12 Saudi Arabia Air Force PC-9 48 Slovenia Army PC-9 2 Slovenia Army PC-9M 9 Switzerland Air Force PC-9 11 Thailand Air Force PC-9 24
Note: In addition, approximately 15 have been sold to civil/commercial customers.
Forecast Rationale Pilatus did not announce any new orders for the PC-9 in Pilatus announced in February 2006 that it had received either 2007 or 2008. The aircraft is still available for an order for 10 PC-7 Mk II trainers from Malaysia. The order, but production appears to have ended. Bulgaria Mk II shares the fuselage of the PC-9, and the primary said at one time that it intended to acquire about six difference between the two aircraft is the Mk II's additional PC-9s, but no order has been reported to date. derated PT6A-25C turboprop, which gives it slightly
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Pilatus PC-9
reduced performance in exchange for lower operating customers seeking attrition replacements or to expand costs. Pilatus delivered four of the 10 Mk IIs ordered by existing fleets, but the newer, more flexible PC-21 is Malaysia in 2006 and completed the order during 2007. likely to be the choice of future customers. Pilatus appears ready to restart production of the PC-9 should orders arrive. It may sell additional units to
