Pilatus PC-7 to be inducted into Indian Air Force on Friday

[ladder]

Pilatus PC-7 to be inducted into Indian Air Force on Friday

New Delhi: The Pilatus PC-7 aircraft will be inducted into the Indian Air Force on Friday as the basic trainer for pilots, an official in New Delhi said.

Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh will formally induct the PC-7 Mk II aircraft, which has been manufactured by the Swiss aviation company Pilatus, at the Air Force Academy at Dundigul in Hyderabad.

India has contracted for 75 Pilatus PC-7 aircraft. Of these, 10 have already arrived at the Air Force Academy. The aircraft will be used for first stage of flying by pilots.

Air force officials said the first training course on Pilatus PC-7 will start in July.

The induction ceremony will showcase the PC-7 Mk II in a formation display. Jitendra Singh is expected to go for a sortie in the aircraft. The occasion will see a flypast by Chetak, Kiran and Hawk aircrafts.

Pilatus PC-7 is being used as basic trainer for pilots by air forces in many countries.

Pilatus PC-7 to be inducted into Indian Air Force on Friday | NDTV.com

 

[TrueSpirit]

Just one question to everyone...Do we have to necessarily create "new threads" for very single piece of news report/article/video ? I mean, wouldn't it be advisable to first look for relevant pre-existing threads on DFI & continue the discussion there, rather than multiplying the number of inconsequential threads which might not have the potential for generating enough traffic (conversation/debate/analysis & visits).

In my personal view, a significant proportion of live threads we have today on DFI can be merged into: Indian Army/IAF/India Navy: News, developments & General Discussion threads.

If we can try adhering to the above suggestion, navigating through the forum would so much easier for contributors & moderators, alike.

 

[ladder]

Just one question to everyone...Do we have to necessarily create "new threads" for very single piece of news report/article/video ? I mean, wouldn't it be advisable to first look for relevant pre-existing threads on DFI & continue the discussion there, rather than multiplying the number of inconsequential threads which might not have the potential for generating enough traffic (conversation/debate/analysis & visits).

In my personal view, a significant proportion of live threads we have today on DFI can be merged into: Indian Army/IAF/India Navy: News, developments & General Discussion threads.

If we can try adhering to the above suggestion, navigating through the forum would so much easier for contributors & moderators, alike.

Fair suggestion, will keep cognizance of the same in future.

 

[TrueSpirit]

Fair suggestion, will keep cognizance of the same in future.

Thank you @ladder. But, my suggestion was not directed at you or any individual in particular, but I would prefer to broadcast this message to every DFI-ite, starting with myself.

 

[ladder]

Now, following the induction

Pilatus PC-7 gives boost to IAF Academy

Cadets now get more flying hours with the induction of the advanced basic trainer

The induction of Pilatus PC-7 basic trainer six months ago has brought a qualitative change in the training of future guardians of Indian skies, Air Vice-Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Deputy Commandant and in-charge of Training at Air Force Academy said.

While cadets used to get about 25 hours of flying training earlier, induction of Pilatus has increased this to about 60 flying hours. At the end of the basic training, the cadets are now completing a total of 14 hours of solo flying as compared to just one hour earlier.

Bridging the gap

"Induction of Pilatus aircraft has plugged a vital gap in the basic flying training of cadets and with the presence of advanced navigation aids in the aircraft, teaching the basics of flying has become much easier and safer," Mr. Chaudhari said. Pilatus has features like glass (digital) cockpit, Instrument Landing System, and advanced communications systems.

The Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 Mark-II aircraft was inducted in Indian Air Force (IAF) to fill the gap created by the grounding of the indigenous HPT-32 basic training aircrafts in June 2009. During the intervening period, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactured jet trainer Kiran Mark-II was used to teach basic flying skills.

"Ideally, training of a fighter pilot should progress from turbo propeller aircrafts to slow jet trainers and then to fast jet trainers. For this reason teaching basic flying with Kiran Mark-II was difficult as it is a slow jet trainer," Mr. Chaudhari explained.

With induction of Pilatus trainer, the Kiran Mark-II aircrafts have been sent back to Hakimpet Air Force Station to be used in the second stage of flying training for fighter pilots.

However, this equilibrium may not last long as the fast aging Kiran Mark-II aircrafts would be decommissioned soon.

"Kirans may have to be grounded in about four years and a suitable Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) should be inducted to replace them," Mr. Chaudhari observed.

A total of 75 Pilatus PC-7 aircrafts are being procured from the Swiss company in which 60 will be positioned in AFA and 15 will be used in training flying instructors in Tambaram, Chennai. AFA, till date, has about 28 Pilatus aircrafts.

Passing-out parade

About 203 trainees from various branches of IAF will graduate from AFA and receive commissioning from present IAF chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne on December 14. Of the 203 cadets, 37 are female cadets. The final Passing Out Parade will also contain a colourful fly-past and acrobatics by different aircraft.

Keywords: Pilatus, Indian Air Force, training aircraft, Kiran Mark-II, HAL, Dundigal

Pilatus PC-7 gives boost to IAF Academy - The Hindu

 

[W.G.Ewald]

I would like to fly Pilatus in MS Flight Simulator.