PC-9/A

The Pilatus PC‑9/A is a single‑engine, turboprop training aircraft that entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in the early 1990s. Built under licence by de Havilland Australia at Bankstown, New South Wales, the PC‑9/A was the RAAF’s replacement for the locally produced CAC Winjeel and the British Jet Provost trainers. Its first flight took place in 1990 and the fleet of 49 aircraft was delivered between 1992 and 1995. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A‑25C engine delivering 750 shp, the PC‑9/A offers a maximum speed of 530 km/h, a service ceiling above 30 000 ft and a range of roughly 1 600 km, making it suitable for both basic and advanced pilot instruction. Key features include a fully pressurised cockpit, modern avionics with digital flight displays, an ejection seat, and a low‑maintenance airframe constructed of aluminium alloy. The aircraft’s agility and reliable performance have allowed it to serve as a platform for weapons‑delivery training, aerobatics and liaison duties. Its introduction marked a shift toward indigenous production capability in Australia and cemented the PC‑9/A’s role as a cornerstone of the RAAF’s pilot training pipeline for more than two decades.

de Havilland Australia

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Design & Classification