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Pilatus Aircraft this week achieved a first flight with the PC-7 MKX trainer for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The company released video of the flight, which happened on September 7 at the Swiss manufacturer’s headquarters in Stans.
The Dutch military is expected to receive the first of eight examples of the latest PC-7 model between May and September in 2027 at its Woensdrecht air base, along with flight simulators for ground-based training. The MKX is an upgrade to the two-seat, single-engine PC-7 that is currently being used for basic pilot training.
The MKX model is intended to get ab initio trainee pilots closer to jet fighter capability. It has a maximum speed of 300 knots and can climb at 2,675 feet per minute, with a G load range of +7.0 to -3.5.
The cockpit features the Garmin G3000 Prime avionics suite with three high-definition displays. The aircraft is powered by a 700-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop.
Other announced NATO customers for the PC-7 MKX include the militaries of France, which has ordered 22 aircraft and Belgium, with 18.