Pilatus has flown the first PC-7 MKX basic military trainer at its site in Stans, Switzerland, with the aircraft set for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The inaugural sortie took place on 7 September and came as the Dutch air force became the launch customer for the upgraded trainer, which will replace the ageing PC-7 in basic military training service. The Dutch fleet will comprise eight aircraft, with deliveries due in 2027.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence described the event as a double first, covering both the maiden flight of the Dutch aircraft and the first flight of a PC-7 MKX series aircraft. The programme’s progress from development into production and delivery gives Pilatus a new step in the military trainer market, where the PC-7 family has long been used for elementary pilot instruction.
The PC-7 MKX is the successor to the original PC-7 basic trainer and is being introduced as the next generation in that segment. A separate report on 9 September matched the same milestone, confirming the first flight as a current aviation development.