The French Air and Space Force’s initial Pilatus PC-7 MKX turboprop trainer, serial number 1009, successfully performed its maiden flight on October 9, 2026, departing from the Pilatus Aircraft manufacturing facility in Stans, Switzerland. Operating under the provisional civil registration HB-HDA, the flight followed preliminary engine tests and initial propeller rotations conducted on October 1. A subsequent test flight was carried out on October 13, ahead of the aircraft receiving its permanent French military serial number 701HA. Assembly of the type is progressing rapidly in Stans, with four additional airframes, serial numbers 1010 through 1013, currently in final assembly.
The introduction of the PC-7 MKX marks a major modernization for the French military flight training syllabus, continuing a operational legacy that originated with the baseline PC-7. Evolved from the earlier piston-engine Pilatus P-3, the PC-7 family incorporated a turboprop power plant, a single-piece wing, and a bubble canopy, establishing a significant presence in the global defense market since its introduction in the 1970s. The latest MKX variant, originally unveiled at the Dubai Airshow in November 2021, integrates updated avionics, modern cockpit displays, and fully compatible ground-based training systems, incorporating computer-based instruction, flight simulators, and virtual or mixed-reality training tools.
The selection of the PC-7 MKX platform reflects a broader trend toward joint training infrastructure among Western European air arms. France selected the system in late 2024, followed by orders from the Netherlands in February 2025 and Belgium in November 2025. Flight testing of the derivative has accelerated throughout late 2026, with the initial Dutch airframe conducting its maiden flight in September, preceding the first French flight in October. Student pilot instruction across the participating services is scheduled to commence in 2028, following the delivery of ground training infrastructure, flight simulators, and the completion of instructor conversion courses.
At the core of the PC-7 MKX upgrade package is an advanced glass cockpit architecture structured around the Garmin G3000 Prime avionics suite. The integration marks the initial application of the G3000 suite featuring custom user-defined displays tailored specifically to military flight training requirements. By coupling Pilatus’ established training methodology with Garmin’s open-architecture avionics, the PC-7 MKX training platform is designed to provide an intuitive, high-reliability baseline for initial pilot training, establishing a standardized gateway to advanced military aircrew preparation across allied air forces.
