Pilatus PC-9

The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing, tandem-seat turboprop trainer designed and built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. It was developed as a more powerful evolution of the PC-7, with an enlarged cockpit, stepped ejection seats and a ventral airbrake, and has little structural commonality with its predecessor. The prototype first flew on 7 May 1984 and type certification came in September 1985. The PC-9 was designed to serve as both an initial and an advanced trainer without an intermediate type. More than 250 have been built in five variants, including Australian licence production by Hawker de Havilland and the Beechcraft T-6A Texan II developed with Beechcraft for the United States JPATS competition.