PC-21
Pilatus · Switzerland · first flew 2002 · light aircraft
An advanced turboprop trainer designed to mimic jet performance, bridging basic flying and fast-jet conversion.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.23 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Five-blade scimitar propeller on a sharp spinner
- Sharply swept-leading-edge tapered low wing
- Long stepped tandem canopy with high rear seat
The five-blade scimitar propeller, sharply tapered wing and tall stepped canopy mark it out. It looks faster and more aggressive than the rounder PC-9 and Tucano.
Specifications
- The PC-21 has a length of 11.23 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.11 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 624 km/h (388 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (instructor and student).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Pilatus flew the PC-21 in 2002 as a clean-sheet successor to the PC-7 and PC-9. Its 1,600 shp PT6A-68B, five-blade propeller and digital cockpit let it emulate much of a jet trainer's flight envelope at lower cost. Embedded simulation lets students practise radar, weapons and sensor tasks on the propeller aircraft.
Variants
A single principal variant is offered, continuously updated; customers tailor avionics and embedded training systems rather than the airframe.
Where you'll see it
The PC-21 is not an RAF type, though Switzerland, France, Qatar, Australia and others operate it as their advanced trainer. The RAF's comparable advanced training is conducted on the Texan T1 and Hawk.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.