Breaking news
Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II training aircraft enters in service with the Indian Air Force 0906131.
| a | |||
| |
|||
World
Air Force News - India |
|||
| Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II training aircraft enters in service with the Indian Air Force.. | |||
The
Indian air force inducted the first 12 of 75 Swiss-manufactured Pilatus
PC-7 Mk-II basic training aircraft at a ceremony at the Dundigal Air Force
Academy near Hyderabad. Minister of State for Defense Jitendra Singh unveiled
the tandem-seat turboprop aircraft that is capable of aerobatics as well
as tactical and night flying, The Hindu reported. |
|||
 The PC-7 Mk II is a development of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, fitted with the PC-7's smaller turbine to lower operating and maintenance costs. |
|||
"The induction of PC Mk-II is a very important landmark in our nation's quest for modernizing its armed forces," Singh said. "The need to train pilots on modern trainers is crucial to prepare them for the requirements of combat flying." India ordered the low-wing Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II aircraft for ab initio trainee pilots including those in the navy and coast guard, The Hindu report said. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said the Pilatus will prove to be "the ideal platform" to expose initial trainees to basic flying, modern avionics and navigation aids. "PC-7 would provide a solid foundation and facilitate a seamless transition from the ab initio stage through intermediate and advanced stages into full-fledged operational flying for all streams," Browne said. India ordered the
Pilatus in a $520 million deal as a direct replacement for the aging
turbo-prop Deepak HPT-32 trainer made by the Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics. |
|||