First French Pilatus PC-7 MKX Completed Maiden Flight in Switzerland

This maiden flight brings the program closer to active service under the Mentor 2 military pilot training initiative in France, which is slated to launch operations in the year 2027. The two-seat turboprop trainer is an upgraded iteration of the PC-7 MkII variant, incorporating a modernized cockpit configured around Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics. Additionally, the trainer is equipped with a head-up display designed to familiarize student aviators with systems found in more complex military training aircraft.

Babcock France secured a 17-year training contract in 2025 that included the selection of the PC-7 MKX. The overall agreement encompasses twenty-two aircraft in addition to ground-based training devices and simulators. These machines will be stationed at Salon-de-Provence Air Base to deliver foundational flight instruction before trainees advance to more sophisticated aircraft. France already utilizes twenty-six Pilatus PC-21 turboprops for advanced instruction, which includes units from a subsequent follow-on order.

Ioannis Papachristofilou, who serves as Pilatus Vice President of Government Aviation, shared a statement on LinkedIn on Wednesday expressing satisfaction with the milestone flight. He stated that the manufacturer is working alongside Babcock to prepare for the introduction into service next year while anticipating upcoming milestones in the schedule.

Other nations have also placed orders for the PC-7 MKX turboprop. The Royal Netherlands Air Force flew the first production version of the aircraft on September 7 and anticipates receiving its fleet of eight units starting in May 2027. Meanwhile, Belgium has placed an order for eighteen units, with those deliveries likewise slated to commence in 2027.

Sources: AVweb