PC-7 Team

PC-7 Team
Swiss Air Force Aerobatic team

PC-7 Team
Active 1989 – present
Country   Switzerland
Branch Swiss Air Force
Role Aerobatic team
Size 9 Aircraft
Colors Red, White
Aircraft flown
Trainer 9 Pilatus PC-7
An F/A-18 Hornet performing with the PC-7 Team at RIAT 2009

The PC-7 Team is an aerobatics team of the Swiss Air Force. It derives its name from the airplane used, nine Pilatus PC-7 trainers.

History

The team prepares to depart from the 2013 Royal International Air Tattoo

The team was established in 1987, but did not return next season. In 1989 it was re-established for the 75th birthday of the Swiss Air Force. Most displays are in Switzerland, but since 1992 the team has occasionally performed abroad.

Since its establishment the team has flown the Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer. In October 2006, it was replaced by the NCPC-7, which is a PC-7 equipped with a new cockpit. The PC-7 Team currently flys nine Pilatus PC-7 in the standard configuration of the Swiss Air Force's PC-7. The PC-7 Team still uses the unique Swiss Air Force Bambini-Code for its radio communication.

The PC-7 Team's homebase is Dübendorf Air Base, but they often operate from Militärflugplatz Emmen or Locarno Airport. All Pilots of the PC-7 Team are full-time military pilots and usually fly the F/A-18. The show program is made from 23 different elements. In 2014 the nine aircraft were fitted with smoke generators, it was publicly used for the first time on 1 August 2014 at Buochs Airport at the roll-out of the Pilatus PC-24.The smoke system was built and financed by the company Pilatus Aircraft. Currently are 7 smoking systems available who can be mounted in the luggage compartment of the PC-7. The diesel-oil mixture is injected into the right exhaust of the PC-7.[1] For large airshows like RIAT or the Air14 the PC-7 Team flies in the opening of the flight demonstration also often with the Patrouille Suisse, the Hornet Solo Display Team or the Super Puma Display Team in a joint flyover formation. A unique Flight Demonstration offered the PC-7 Team on September 7, 2014 at the Air14 Air Show in Payerne as they together with the Patrouille Suisse were demonstrating a display with a total of 15 aircraft.

Award

See also

References

  1. ↑ Insider (Patrouille Suisse fan club newspaper) 2014 page 21
  2. ↑ Insider (Patrouille Suisse fan club newspaper) 2014 page 13

External links

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