[size=150]Lockheed Martin Team Achieves First PC-21 Flight Under Australia's Air 5428 Pilot Training System Program[/size]
(Source: Lockheed Martin Australia; issued July 21, 2016)
STANS, Switzerland --- Lockheed Martin and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd have successfully completed the initial production test flight of the first PC-21 aircraft destined for the Australian Defence Force under the AIR 5428 Pilot Training System program.
Under a contract signed in December 2015, the initial seven-year program is valued at AU$1.2 billion. Performance-based options for up to 25 years will provide the opportunity to extend the length and increase the value of the total contract. Lockheed Martin leads the delivery of an integrated solution tailored for all future pilots for the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army.
"This is a true testament to our teammate Pilatus and a proven aircraft that will form the backbone of future pilot training for the Australian Defence Force for the next 25 years. We offer our congratulations on this first significant step," said Raydon Gates, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand.
This first PC-21, registered as A54-001, will be handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force at East Sale in June 2017 after completion of testing and verification work in both Switzerland and Australia.
"This initial flight of the first Australian PC-21, only seven months after contract signature, is a remarkable achievement and illustrates both the commitment of Pilatus and the hard work of all those involved in the project," said Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of Pilatus.
Under the prime contract, Lockheed Martin will provide overall project management for the pilot training system and deliver a family of integrated ground-based training technologies. Pilatus Aircraft will provide PC-21 turboprop training aircraft and through-life engineering and airworthiness support. Hawker Pacific will provide maintenance services and fleet support and leverage its established supply chain in Australia.
The PC-21s for Australia will form the backbone of future pilot training for the Australian Defence Force for the next 25 years.
Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,000 people in Australia and New Zealand working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.
-ends-
| PC-9 Length: 10.14 m (33 ft 3 in) Wingspan: 10.125 m (33 ft 3 in) Height: 3.26 m (10 ft 8 in) Wing area: 16.29 m2 (175.3 sq ft) Empty weight: 1,725 kg (3,803 lb) Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprop, 857 kW (1,149 hp) flat-rated at 708 kW (950 shp) Performance: Maximum speed: 593 km/h (368 mph; 320 kn) Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph; 77 kn) EAS flaps and gear up, 128 km/h (80 mph; 69 kn) flaps and gear down Range: 1,537 km (955 mi; 830 nmi) Service ceiling: 11,580 m (37,992 ft) Rate of climb: 20.8 m/s (4,090 ft/min) g limits: + 7.0 g to −3.5 g | PC-21 Length: 11.233 m (36 ft 11 in) Wingspan: 9.108 m (29 ft 11 in) Height: 3.749 m (12 ft 4 in) Wing area: 15.221 m² (163.848 ft²) Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,005 lb) Max. takeoff weight: 3,100 kg (aerobatic) / 4,250 kg (utility) (6,834 lb (aerobatic) / 9,370 lb (utility)) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B Turboprop engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 shp) Performance: Maximum speed: 685 km/h (370 knots, 428 mph) Stall speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106.25 mph) gear and flaps up (20 km/h less with flaps and gear down) Range: 1,333 km (720 nm, 828 miles) Service ceiling: 11,580 m (38,000 ft) Rate of climb: 1,219 m/min (4,000 ft/min) g limits: + 8.0 g to – 4.0 (aerobatic) / + 5.0 g to – 2.5 g (utility) |
Plus, you know, the airframe's a new design.
Well, the PC21 is some 20 odd years newer and includes a far bigger engine for one. Specs below:Interesting, the PC-21 uses the same basic engine as the T-6 Texan II where the Texan II has it fitted to an airframe that, aft of the firewall, retains the lines of the PC-9 (but not the structure, T-6 had to meet FAA birdstrike requirements and has a different, and stronger, structure). Cowling contours forward of the firewall are all new for the T-6. I wonder how they match those in the PC-21?
PC-9
Length: 10.14 m (33 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 10.125 m (33 ft 3 in)
Height: 3.26 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16.29 m2 (175.3 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,725 kg (3,803 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprop, 857 kW (1,149 hp) flat-rated at 708 kW (950 shp)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 593 km/h (368 mph; 320 kn)
Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph; 77 kn) EAS flaps and gear up, 128 km/h (80 mph; 69 kn) flaps and gear down
Range: 1,537 km (955 mi; 830 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (37,992 ft)
Rate of climb: 20.8 m/s (4,090 ft/min)
g limits: + 7.0 g to −3.5 gPC-21
Length: 11.233 m (36 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 9.108 m (29 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.749 m (12 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 15.221 m² (163.848 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,005 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,100 kg (aerobatic) / 4,250 kg (utility) (6,834 lb (aerobatic) / 9,370 lb (utility))
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B Turboprop engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 shp)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 685 km/h (370 knots, 428 mph)
Stall speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106.25 mph) gear and flaps up (20 km/h less with flaps and gear down)
Range: 1,333 km (720 nm, 828 miles)
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (38,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 1,219 m/min (4,000 ft/min)
g limits: + 8.0 g to – 4.0 (aerobatic) / + 5.0 g to – 2.5 g (utility)
Call me old-fashioned, I figured "the airframe" encompassed "wing" :PPlus, you know, the airframe's a new design.
And the wing...
Well, the PC21 is some 20 odd years newer and includes a far bigger engine for one. Specs below:
PC-9
Length: 10.14 m (33 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 10.125 m (33 ft 3 in)
Height: 3.26 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16.29 m2 (175.3 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,725 kg (3,803 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprop, 857 kW (1,149 hp) flat-rated at 708 kW (950 shp)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 593 km/h (368 mph; 320 kn)
Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph; 77 kn) EAS flaps and gear up, 128 km/h (80 mph; 69 kn) flaps and gear down
Range: 1,537 km (955 mi; 830 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (37,992 ft)
Rate of climb: 20.8 m/s (4,090 ft/min)
g limits: + 7.0 g to −3.5 gPC-21
Length: 11.233 m (36 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 9.108 m (29 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.749 m (12 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 15.221 m² (163.848 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,005 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,100 kg (aerobatic) / 4,250 kg (utility) (6,834 lb (aerobatic) / 9,370 lb (utility))
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B Turboprop engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 shp)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 685 km/h (370 knots, 428 mph)
Stall speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106.25 mph) gear and flaps up (20 km/h less with flaps and gear down)
Range: 1,333 km (720 nm, 828 miles)
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (38,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 1,219 m/min (4,000 ft/min)
g limits: + 8.0 g to – 4.0 (aerobatic) / + 5.0 g to – 2.5 g (utility)
Well, the PC21 is some 20 odd years newer and includes a far bigger engine for one. Specs below:
I don't get it, it's 1 1/2 times more powerful and it's 1200 lb heavier yet it's only 2 knots faster, it's stall speed is nearly 17 knots higher, it's range is 230 nm less, it's rate of climb is less and the service ceiling is the same. Wouldn't it be better just to keep the PC-9 and save some money
Well, the PC21 is some 20 odd years newer and includes a far bigger engine for one. Specs below:
PC-9
Length: 10.14 m (33 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 10.125 m (33 ft 3 in)
Height: 3.26 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16.29 m2 (175.3 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,725 kg (3,803 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprop, 857 kW (1,149 hp) flat-rated at 708 kW (950 shp)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 593 km/h (368 mph; 320 kn)
Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph; 77 kn) EAS flaps and gear up, 128 km/h (80 mph; 69 kn) flaps and gear down
Range: 1,537 km (955 mi; 830 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (37,992 ft)
Rate of climb: 20.8 m/s (4,090 ft/min)
g limits: + 7.0 g to −3.5 gPC-21
Length: 11.233 m (36 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 9.108 m (29 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.749 m (12 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 15.221 m² (163.848 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,005 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,100 kg (aerobatic) / 4,250 kg (utility) (6,834 lb (aerobatic) / 9,370 lb (utility))
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B Turboprop engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 shp)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 685 km/h (370 knots, 428 mph)
Stall speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106.25 mph) gear and flaps up (20 km/h less with flaps and gear down)
Range: 1,333 km (720 nm, 828 miles)
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (38,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 1,219 m/min (4,000 ft/min)
g limits: + 8.0 g to – 4.0 (aerobatic) / + 5.0 g to – 2.5 g (utility)
I don't get it, it's 1 1/2 times more powerful and it's 1200 lb heavier yet it's only 2 knots faster, it's stall speed is nearly 17 knots higher, it's range is 230 nm less, it's rate of climb is less and the service ceiling is the same. Wouldn't it be better just to keep the PC-9 and save some money
Now we have the complicated scheme to challenge someone to do a decal set if only there was a kit...in 1/48!!!
I already have a PC-9 kit. What I am after is a PC-21.
There is a 1/72 kit available:
([url]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/s-l1600-12_zpsppyzqtyp.jpg[/url])
There is a 1/72 kit available:
([url]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/s-l1600-12_zpsppyzqtyp.jpg[/url])
Now where can you get that ? Never heard of that outfit before --
Any news on what the new FAC type to replace the 4 SQN PC-9s will be?
The last PC-21s look good - if only there was a 1/48 kit available:
(https://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/cache/5003/DefenceImagery/2019/S20193180/20191206raaf8494074_076.t5dea0354.m2400.x07gNMTTL.jpg)
Gosh, that is quite a pointy nose there, on that fella...
Since it derives from the PC-9, is discussion of the Textron Aviation/Beech/Raytheon Aircraft T-6 Texan II family suited to this thread?