iscover
A trio of Pilatus PC-7 primary trainers. PC-7 is powered by a derated P&W PT6A-25A turboprop and can carry a full 5000lb in attack stores on six underwing hardpoints. The primary competitor to this Swiss aircraft is the Beechcraft T-34C Mentor.
Trends in Military Trainers
0 comment
The steadily increasing cost of military flying instruction is causing the leading air forces to review their training equipment and the way it is employed. There is consequently a worldwide trend toward the use of a small number of purpose-built types in conjunction with simulators.
At the upper end of the performance scale, it is generally agreed that advanced flying training does not require super sonic performance. Although the Northrop T-38A Talon represents an outstanding technological achievement, the current USAF syllabus includes only one supersonic flight, since the extra learning that this provides is not felt to compensate for the associated reduction in sortie duration.
The Mitsubishi T-2 flown by Japan’s ASDF is the only new advanced trainer capable of supersonic performance in level flight, and this aircraft is widely regarded as an expensive aberration, unlikely to be copied elsewhere.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
