Pilatus bullish on PC-21 trainer sale to France

[Vergennes]

@Nilgiri @Blue Marlin

The Swiss are well advanced in the building of the first aircrafts.

It looks like it wont be a 1:1 replacement. This will be a partial tranche for basic training and France may opt for something else for intermediate+ jet level (and that would be a turbofan trainer of some sort) for the remaining alpha jets to be replaced.

17 Pilatus were ordered for now. They will replace the Alpha Jets based in Tours,which avionics are obsolete.
Part of the Alpha Jet fleet will still remain in service,especially those based in Cazaux that were recently upgraded.

 

[Blue Marlin]

@Nilgiri @Blue Marlin

The Swiss are well advanced in the building of the first aircrafts.

View attachment 398787
View attachment 398788


17 Pilatus were ordered for now. They will replace the Alpha Jets based in Tours,which avionics are obsolete.
Part of the Alpha Jet fleet will still remain in service,especially those based in Cazaux that were recently upgraded.

hmmmm......looking at the images i'd say they have a lot more work to do before that plane is ready.
if they haven't noticed its got no canopy.

so a turboprop is replacing a jet powered plane?