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PILATUS PC-7 MK II
Why in the News?
- Two pilots lost their lives in the crash of an Indian Air Force Pilatus PC-7 Mk II training aircraft during a routine sortie. The incident occurred from the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, Telangana.
- A Court of Inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the accident, marking the first crash involving this aircraft since its induction into the IAF fleet in 2013.
Source: Hindustan Times
Source: Hindustan TimesTraining Aircraft and Their Significance
- Trainer aircraft play a crucial role in pilot training, offering a less complex environment for novices to master flying skills.
- These aircraft are designed to be forgiving, with slower speeds, simpler operating systems, and resistance to stalls and spins.
Insight into Pilatus PC-7 Mk II and IAF’s Training Fleet
- Manufactured by Swiss aerospace company Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, the PC-7 Mk II has been a staple in air forces worldwide since the 1970s.
- With a low-wing, turbo-prop design and tandem seating, it serves as an initiation trainer for cadets.
- The IAF, which currently operates 75 of these aircraft, faced a critical shortage of training planes, leading to the procurement of the PC-7 Mk II in 2012 after the grounding of the indigenously developed HPT-32.
Future plans involve acquiring the HTT-40 basic trainers from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to further enhance the IAF’s training capabilities.
