PC 9

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The PC-9/A, designed by Pilatus Switzerland and built under license by hawker de Havilland in Sydney. It was introduced to the RAAF in 1987. Pilot training in the aircraft commenced in 1989. The PC-9/A is a two-seat single engine turboprop aircraft and is the major basic training aircraft for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It is flown by the Central Flying School at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria, where the ADF’s fixed wing flying instructors are trained, and at No.2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia where the future pilots of the ADF are trained to wings stage. There are also a few PC-9/A aircraft with grey paintwork at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales, which are used to train our Australian Defence force (ADF) Forward Air Controllers (FAC) who coordinate air support to troops on the ground. The PC-9/A is probably best known to the public as the aircraft flown by the Air Force Roulettes in aerobatic displays at major events throughout Australia. Central Flying School instructors fly six aircraft that comprise the team as a secondary role to their instructional tasks.