By Skies Magazine | November 15, 2021 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 25 seconds.
Pilatus on Nov. 14 announced the brand-new PC-7 MKX, which the company said offers smart training capability in the Basic Training segment at unrivalled cost. The smart Basic Trainer features a new glass cockpit with “smart avionics,” improvements to crew comfort, and other technical innovations. Pilatus said the PC-7 MKX “is now available to take on a new generation of student pilots and turn them into first class military aviators.”
Powered by the cost-efficient, 700-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C engine, the PC-7 MKX has “the lowest engine operating costs of all turboprop trainer aircraft,” Pilatus said. The aircraft is also the only trainer in its class that is equipped with Martin Baker ejections seats. The PC-7 MKX has a top speed of 300 knots, with a max rate of climb of 2,675 feet per minute, and a stall speed of 77 KCAS.
Featuring software developed by and for military pilots, the tandem-cockpit trainer is equipped with three-display platforms with next-gen HD screens, including a large primary flight display and multi-function displays. A variety of flight modes can be selected with the primary flight display, while the left and right displays feature a moving map for navigation, a Flight Management System, and an Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System. These features provide students with early exposure to technology found in current advanced training and fighter platforms, Pilatus said.
The smart avionics offer flexibility for a wide range of training missions. The OEM said the aircraft’s avionics capability is “designed as a comprehensive baseline configuration with various add-on options” to meet various training needs. Options include synthetic vision system, traffic advisory system, autopilot, cockpit camera, and mission debriefing system.
The smart avionics, combined with the PC-7 MKX’s forgiving flying characteristics, position the aircraft to “train the broadest possible range of aircrew, making it the ideal basic trainer for air forces around the world,” Pilatus said.
Built of aluminum alloy sheet and extrusion, the PC-7 MKX has been designed with a conventional semi-monocoque construction for the wing, fuselage, and empennage. These combined features translate to easy replacement of parts and a “high degree of interchangeability.” Pilatus said the trainer is guaranteed to deliver a lifecycle of at least 30 years.
The PC-7 MKX platform also comes with training aids, virtual reality tools, and a full flight simulator to cover all aspects of ground-based training, as well as to support “integrated, progressive learning.
“This allows the air force to optimize training time and reduce training cost per pilot,” Pilatus added.
As well, “a unique two-platform approach facilitates transition of a student pilot straight into a fifth-generation front line asset,” the OEM said.
The PC-7 MKX will make its public debut at the 2021 Dubai Air Show from Nov. 15 to 18.
