PC-21s to Replace S211s for RSAF's Basic Wings Training

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The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has awarded a service contract to Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support (LMSTS) to support the RSAF's Basic Wings training course in Pearce, Australia with Pilatus PC-21 aircraft. The Basic Wings Course equips RSAF pilots with the knowledge and skills of basic flying before they progress to advanced aircraft training. 
 
As part of the contract, LMSTS will supply and maintain a fleet of Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and a suite of ground-based training systems that meet the RSAF's requirements for its Basic Wings Course. This will allow the RSAF to focus on the core business of flying training.  
 

The PC-21s will replace the Marchetti S-211, which has been the RSAF's basic trainer for 22 years. With modern avionics and a training suite to simulate air and ground targets for basic fighter training, the turboprop PC-21 aircraft will come with advanced technologies to enhance the basic training and proficiency of RSAF pilot trainees.

Features and General Information about PC-21

(Courtesy: pilatus-aircraft.com)

The PC-21 is a single engine, low-wing swept monoplane with a stepped tandem cockpit. The primary structure is aluminium and elements of the secondary structure are made of composite material. The performance, handling and wing loading place the PC-21 in a class beyond the reach of any other turboprop training aircraft. Digital avionics, based on powerful open architecture computers, maximize the value extracted from each training sortie. The aircraft is optimised for the following roles:

  1. Basic Flying Training
  2. Advanced Flying Training
  3. Mission System Management Training in the Fighter Lead-in Role

Because the PC-21 is an entirely new aircraft design, Pilatus was able to optimise the combination of a high-powered engine, high-speed propeller, and the aerodynamic profile of the fuselage and wing. The PC-21 airframe was designed to bridge the aerodynamic performance gap between traditional turboprop trainers and more expensive jet trainers. With a maximum level speed of 325 kts at low altitude, giving a useable cruise speed of 300 kts for training purposes, the PC-21 pushes the low-level speed and performance of the turboprop into an area that was previously exclusive to jets, one that also surpasses all other turboprop trainers on the market.

The digital engine management system schedules power as a function of airspeed to give jet-like acceleration throughout the speed range and to provide a progressive and controllable power delivery at take-off and in the circuit.

Systems integration is at the core of the PC-21 cockpit design philosophy. There are three 6×8 inch AMLCD main displays and two AMLCK standby displays in each cockpit. All displays are NVG compatible. The front cockpit has a Head Up Display (HUD) and the rear cockpit is fitted with an HUD repeater. The Primary Flight Display provides information such as speed, altitude, attitude, turn and slip and navigation information. The multi-function displays (MFD) provide a wide variety of page formats. These can include master systems pages, engine instrumentation and crew alerting functions, checklists, moving map, simulated stores management and tactical displays including synthetic radar. Inputs to the system are made via the MFD soft keys, the up-front control panel, and the Hands On Throttle and Stick. (Courtesy: pilatus-aircraft.com)