Ex-RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A aerobatic trainer emerges for sale
A retired mid-life Australian Pilatus PC-9/A has emerged for sale with an asking price of around $1.1 million. This comes as AGN has reported a very rare original flight-worthy Messerschmitt Bf 109 and a licence-built Spanish Burchon fighter going on sale.
Ex-RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A for sale
Platinum Fighter Sales has just listed a 1991 ex-Royal Australian Air Force Pilatus PC-9/A for sale. The trainer is registered as VH-YMK and was used by the former Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes aerobatic team.
The aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-62 engine. The engine was able to produce 1,150 hp, but has been derated to 950 hp. The list price is USD 1.1 million plus GST if applicable.
The aircraft has clocked a total of 7,806 flight hours since it was manufactured and 3,860 hours since its last major overhaul. Unlike many piston engines, the PT6 engine is not typically operated on a strict “overhaul every X hours” basis.
These engines can remain in service well beyond 15,000-20,000 flight hours, with some examples exceeding 30,000 hours with proper maintenance. The aircraft can be considered approximately mid-life.
As with other aircraft of this type, it is fitted with Martin Baker MK 11 Ejection seats.
Its instruments are original as operated by the Royal Australian Air Force. It has strengthened landing gear for its RAAF service. The aircraft is currently in New South Wales (can be exported) and is pending C of A and Annual Inspection.
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The RAAF Roulettes aerobatic team
The Roulettes team commenced its displays at RAAF Base Point Cook in 1970 (after the earlier Red Sales and Telstars).
Roulette displays are performed around Australia and consist of a number of manoeuvres flown in various formations at low level. Some fly as low as 80 metres (250 feet) at a speed of up to 370 knots.
The pilots can experience up to 6 ‘G’ during the displays. The aircraft sometimes fly as close as three metres apart from each other. The Roulettes pilots are Qualified Flying Instructors who work at the Central Flying School, which is based at RAAF Base East Sale in the state of Victoria.
Farewell to our #4SQN forward air control aircraft – the @PilatusAircraft PC-9/A(F). ✈️👋
— Royal Australian Air Force (@AusAirForce) September 10, 2019
It has served 4SQN well & will be retired in October. In early 2020 they'll receive PC-21s to take their place.
Find out more at https://t.co/LlpcHkNwBp#AusAirForce #AirCombat #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/uBQkrYPGa2
The RAAF states that when not conducting displays, the Roulettes pilots are responsible for teaching other RAAF pilots to become instructors.
The RAAF’s fleet of Pilatus PC-21s
Originally, the Roulettes used the Macchi MB-326 before transitioning to the Pilatus PC-9/A in 1989.
"It goes faster, turns harder, and flies higher."
— Royal Australian Air Force (@AusAirForce) March 26, 2019
Flight Lieutenant Daniel Price is excited about upgrading to PC-21s. Who else is keen to see the new routine? 🙋🙋♂️🛩️
More on our #AusAirForce #Roulettes' farewell to their trademark PC-9/As at #Avalon2019 https://t.co/VjhdgjPMWe pic.twitter.com/RLU2MuwGot
The team retired the PC-9 and replaced it with the PC-21 in 2019, with the Forward Air Control variant (PC-9/A) being officially retired by 4 Squadron in October 2019. They also replaced the CT-4B Airtrainer that had been used for basic training.
The Royal Australian Air Force says of its new PC-21s, “The Pilatus PC-21 is the world’s most advanced pilot training aircraft. The PC-21 is based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria and RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia.”
In 2024, the RAAF celebrated 100,000 flying hours on its Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft fleet. The force operates a total of 49 PC-21s.
The aircraft is used to bridge the gap between basic flight training and frontline readiness, preparing Australian pilots to transition to fighter jets such as the F-35A.
The RAAF operated a total of 67 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft between 1987 and 2019. Two of these were built by Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland, 17 were assembled in Australia from kits, and 48 were manufactured in Australia by the then-Hawker de Havilland.
Since then, the Boeing Australia MQ-28 Ghost Bat has become the first military combat aircraft to be designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years.
Featured Image: Royal Australian Air Force
