Pilatus PC-7

Developed as a turboprop basic trainer by Swiss-based Pilatus Aircraft as a successor to the PC-3, the original PC-7 has found significant global success and has been used as the primary trainer by over 20 different countries. The design has constantly been updated since the original mid-1960s design with the advent of the PC-7 Mk2 in 1994, where aspects of the more powerful PC-9 were incorporated. The most recent upgrade was in 2021 to the PC-7 MKX, which has modernised the type for the 21st century.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force use the original PC-7 as their primary trainer and currently have 13 aircraft on strength which are based at Woensdrecht Air Base near Antwerp. The type is near retirement and will be replaced by eight PC-7MKX in the very near future.

In what may be their final appearance, the RNLAF will be sending a pair of their PC-7s for static display at RIAT25 from 131 Squadron.

Photo Credit: Michael Hind