PC-9/A

The PC-9/A is a turboprop training aircraft, an Australian variant of the Swiss Pilatus PC-9. Hawker DE Havilland manufactured the PC-9/A under license for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as their basic trainer. The RAAF originally selected the PC-9 in 1986, and local production by Hawker de Havilland, coupled with assembly and flight testing, began soon after, ensuring significant Australian industry involvement.

Hawker DE Havilland Australia (HdHA) was a foundational element of Australia’s aerospace sector, tracing its roots to the opening of the De Havilland Aircraft Pty. Ltd. facility in Melbourne in 1927. Over the decades, the company evolved through various ownership changes and mergers, becoming a key contractor for aircraft assembly, maintenance, and component manufacturing. The production of the PC-9/A underscored the company’s ability to handle complex military aircraft programs before it eventually became part of Boeing Australia.

The PC-9/A’s design makes it a high-performance, tandem-seat aircraft for flight training, known for its powerful engine and aerodynamic capabilities. Its introduction modernized the RAAF’s training fleet.