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The most well known PC-9 operator is the RMF's display team the Roulettes. The Roulettes have been flying the PC-9 since 1990. (Defence PR)
Aircraft of the ADF — A23 Pilatus PC-9/A
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A23 – Pilatus PC-9/A
On December 16, 1985, the Government announced its decision to cancel development of the Australian Aircraft Consortium (AAC) A10 Wamira and to select instead the Swiss Pilatus PC-9. Sixty-nine of these advanced trainers would be ordered, but ultimately this was reduced to 67 by July 10, 1986, when the contract was signed. The Swiss had proposed as part of their offer that if the RAAF bought the PC-9, Australia would secure 80% of the work on the aircraft and 40% of the work on the other 81 approved aircraft in the PC-9 production run. This work would primarily be with Hawker de Havilland (HdH), the prime contractor, who had been the driving force of the AAC in the Wamira project.
In April 1986, the RAAF decided the A23 prefix, allocated already to the Wamira, would be retained for the PC-9. Also, it was decided to retain the Wamira’s conspicuous orange and white paint scheme which had been planned by AAC with advice from DSTO’s Materials Research Laboratory.
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