First six RAAF PC-21 were welcomed at East Sale

The first six Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for the RAAF were welcomed at East Sale on 11 August 2017. The last of the forty-nine ordered by the RAAF was delivered in December 2019. The PC-21 replaced the Pilatus PC-9 in the RAAF pilot training role. The first RAAF pilot course using the PC-21 completed their training in July 2019.

The RAAF’s Pilatus PC-21 aircraft are flown by Nos 1 and 2 Flying Training School, Central Flying School, No 4 Squadron, and Aircraft Research and Development Unit.

No 4 Squadron operate a small number of PC-21s for the training and development of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers.

In 2019 the RAAF aerobatic team, the Air Force Roulettes, converted from the PC-9 to the PC-21. Their first public display was in October 2019.

The PC-21 remains in service today, with the Roulettes wowing the crowds at airshows and events around Australia.

To learn more, download this extract from Aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force by David Richardson and Peter Wood.