Pilatus begins flight testing of first PC-7 MKX for French air force
Pilatus has started flight tests with the first PC-7 MKX ordered by France, with the lead aircraft flying from its Stans site in October under a 22-aircraft contract.
Pilatus has begun flight-test activities with the first PC-7 MKX basic trainer ordered for the French air force. The lead aircraft, serial number 1009, made its debut sortie from the manufacturer's Stans production site in Switzerland on 9 October, and flew a second time from the same site on 13 October.
France is to operate 22 of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C-engined aircraft. The order was signed in January 2025 through Babcock France, the training provider for the country's Mentor2 programme. The aircraft will later carry the service registration 701HA.
Four more French aircraft, serial numbers 1010 to 1013, are in final assembly at Stans, according to the manufacturer.
The French order is one of three for the new-generation PC-7. Pilatus flew its first production PC-7 MKX on 7 September as part of an eight-unit order for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, with deliveries to that service due to begin in 2027. Belgium, a third customer, has ordered 18 examples under a contract placed in November 2025.
Sources
- flightglobal.comPilatus launches flight testing with first PC-7 MKX trainer for French air force