Pilatus PC-12 PRO unveiled

 A few minutes ago the live stream has ended - watch it on the YouTube Channel of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd

Presentation of the Pilatus PC-12 PRO with a new Cockpit and the Safe-Landing-Button 👍

(screencrabs of the youtube-film)

As I am not a specialist about Business Aircraft, I am not worthy to write very much about this new evolution. But I think there where some very good engineers at it and Pilatus will sell many, many more of the famous Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.

International Airshow Buochs, August 26th/27th, 1994

Let's start with our DeLorean back to one of the most iconic shows in my youth, the Air'94 with the Good Bye to our Hunters. Charged with a few films with 24 and 36 pictures each and an Minolta Dynax with up to 300mm kit lens it was ok, with today's knowledge I whould chose other positions and invest a minimum two days visit...

Lineup was massive, from US Hercules and Eagles to german Tornado and Czeck Su-22; display teams from France, Italy and Spain and of course the Swiss Air Force. 80 Years Swiss Air Force and 30 Years of Patrouille Suisse have to be celebrated !

Mirage 2000D ready for the next 10+ years

 

Our western neighbours are modernising 55 of there 71 resting Mirage 2000D with some important mid-life updates to fullfill there role 'till 2030. The biggest surprise is the installation of an external pod for a canon DEFA 30mm named CC422. The direction générale de l'armement (DGA) wants to give the bomber aircrafts more flexibility with that - needing no more the help of the Mirage 2000C or Rafale aircrafts to supress enemy troops / showing of force on the battleground. Other upgrades includes the change from MAGIG 2 to MICA air-to-air missiles and the possibility to further improve the weapon load and new defence and navigation systems. 

Some important notes about the Mirage 2000D

- first flight february 19th, 1991; operational since april 9th, 1993

- integration of Link16 in between 2009 and 2011, called Mirage 2000D VI

- with the withdrawal of the Mirage F1 in 2014, Mirage 2000D received there ASTAC (Analyseur de Signaux TACtiques) reconnaissance pod

- 1st flight with mid-life update january 7th, 2021

An Mirage 2000D arriving at the Good Bye ceremony for Swiss Air Force's Mirage IIIS at Buochs airfield back in 1999

Patrouille Suisse Season planning 2021

 Think positiv and not COVID'19 - Patrouille Suisse has published there season planning

Emergency Airworthiness Directives (EAD) for Pilatus training aircrafts

It began a few weeks ago with an 1st Emergency Airworthiness Directive for the Harley-type buckle assemblies in the seat harness of the ejection seat on Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft. French Air Force recognised a problem and informed Martin Baker/Pilatus and the respective governments:

Pilatus PC-21 is the latest turboprop-powered advanced military training aircraft and in use by the Air Forces of Australia (49), France (17), Jordan (12), Qatar (24), Saudi Arabia (55), Singapore (19), Spain (24, 1st delivery end of 2020; will replace mainly the CASA C-101 Aviojet, but will also take over advanced training which is currently carried out on the T-35 Pillan), Switzerland (8), United Arab Ermirates (25) and the United Kingdom (2 for advanced training in ETPS).

At this moment (December 23rd), there are all modern military training aircraft systems of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd listed with the same problem of requiring a specific inspection.