Pilatus PC-7 MKX for France completes first flight

Pilatus says the first PC-7 MKX for the French Air and Space Force has flown for the first time in Switzerland, calling it progress toward handing the turboprop trainers to France. The Swiss manufacturer announced the milestone on Wednesday.

The aircraft will support Mentor 2, a military pilot training effort due to start flying operations in 2027. France selected the PC-7 MKX in 2025 under a 17-year training contract awarded to Babcock France. That agreement covers 22 aircraft plus simulators and ground-based training equipment. The fleet is to be based at Salon-de-Provence Air Base, where students will receive initial instruction before moving on to more advanced types.

The two-seat PC-7 MKX updates the earlier PC-7 MkII. It has a redesigned cockpit centred on Garmin's G3000 PRIME avionics and a head-up display, which Pilatus intends to give students early exposure to systems they will meet in more advanced military trainers.

Pilatus vice president of government aviation Ioannis Papachristofilou said in a LinkedIn post that the company was pleased to see the maiden flight. With Babcock, he said, it was preparing for service entry next year while looking ahead to further programme milestones.

France already flies 26 Pilatus PC-21 turboprops for advanced training, some from a follow-on order. Other European customers have signed for the PC-7 MKX. The Royal Netherlands Air Force flew the type's first production aircraft on Sept. 7 and expects to take delivery of its eight examples from May 2027. Belgium has ordered 18, with deliveries also due to start in 2027.