19 March 2024

Military Aircraft Lists

RAAF Base Pearce

2 FTS (Flying Training School) : Pilatus PC-21

The RAAF acquired 49 Pilatus PC-21 two-seat single-engine turboprop aircraft assembled by Pilatus at Stans, Switzerland and delivered from 2017 to 2019. Lockheed Martin manages training, Pilatus provides the PC-21s and through-life support, while Hawker Pacific provides maintenance. The PC-21s replaced the 67 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft delivered from 1987 to 1992, which were all retired by December 2019, when the final PC-21 was delivered.

Pilots conduct five months of ab initio training with 1 FTS at East Sale, including 250 hours of theory instruction, 30 hours simulator instruction and 40 hours of flying in the PC-21. Graduates from Pilot Basic Course can be streamed to the following:

  • Rotary Wing Pilot Training – Army pilots are posted to HMAS Albatross, Nowra for helicopter training. 
  • Further single-pilot fixed wing trainingNavy and RAAF trainees are posted to 2FTS at RAAF Base Pearce for the 30-week Pilot Intermediate Course – more advanced training on the PC21, focused on single-pilot, formation and low-level navigation.  
  • Upon graduating the Pilot Intermediate Course at Pearce:
    • Navy pilots are posted to Nowra for helicopter training.
    • RAAF pilots will be streamed towards becoming a Fast Jet Pilot (FJP), in which case they will need to complete Pilot Advanced Course, or be streamed to be a Fixed Wing Pilot (FWP), in which case they will need to complete a Fixed Wing (e.g. C-17, P8 etc.) Operational Conversion.  
  • Remote Pilot Training. In the future, Pilot Basic Course will also lead to Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA) training (location to be determined). 

The PC-21s are allocated as follows:

  • 42 PC-21s for pilot training:
    • 26 aircraft to No.1 Flying Training School (1FTS) at East Sale, Victoria – also used by the RAAF Roulettes Display Team and wearing Roulettes livery (A54-019 to 044)
    • 16 aircraft to No.2 Flying Training School (2FTS), at Pearce, Western Australia (A54-001 to 016).
  • 4 PC-21s for 4 Squadron, at RAAF Williamtown, NSW, for use in the Forward Air Control (FAC) (A54-046 to 049)
  • 3 PC-21s for the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) at RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia (A54-017, A54-018, A54-045).

While manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) are consecutive, the aircraft were not built consecutively, as five PC-21s for France were built between Australian aircraft on the production line. Updated 27 Jan 2020.

SerialMSNNotes
A54-0012342 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA
A54-0022352 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA
A54-0032362 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA
A54-0042372 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA
A54-0052382 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0062392 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0072402 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0082412 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0092422 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0102432 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0112442 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0122452 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0132462 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0142472 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0152482 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-0162492 FTS, RAAF Pearce, WA  
A54-017250ARDU, RAAF Edinburgh, SA
A54-018251ARDU, RAAF Edinburgh, SA  
A54-0192521 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0202531 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0212541 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0222551 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0232561 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0242571 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0252581 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0262591 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0272601 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0282611 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0292621 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0302631 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0312641 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0322651 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0332661 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0342671 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0352681 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0362691 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0372701 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0382711 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0392721 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC
A54-0402731 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0412741 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0422751 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0432761 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-0442771 FTS / CFS Roulettes, RAAF East Sale, VIC  
A54-045278ARDU, RAAF Edinburgh, SA  
A54-0462794 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, NSW. Grey camouflage.
A54-0472804 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, NSW. Grey camouflage.
A54-0482814 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, NSW. Grey camouflage.
A54-0492824 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, NSW. Grey camouflage.

79 Squadron : BAE Systems Hawk Mk.127 LIF (Lead In Fighter)

The BAE Systems Hawk 127 is used for initial or lead-in fighter training to prepare aircrew for operational conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet fighter.

With the Macchi MB-326H nearing the end of its service life and lacking the performance and avionics to be a lead in fighter trainer, in June 1997 a contract was signed with BAE Systems to supply 33 Lead-in-Fighter 127 Hawk aircraft, together with training devices and logistics support.

34 Hawk Mk.127 LIFT have been built for the Royal Australian Air Force. The first (A27-01) made its maiden flight in December 1999. 12 were built  by BAE Systems at Warton in the UK and a further 22 were assembled by BAE Systems in Australia at RAAF Williamtown, NSW. A27-28 was the last Australian-built Hawk to be delivered to the RAAF, in August 2001.

The Hawk 127 has an avionics package developed specifically to provide a mission system similar to that employed in the RAAF F/A-18 aircraft, featuring a full glass cockpit, new hands-on throttle and stick control system (HOTAS) and new avionics suite.
NOTE: This is a complete list of all RAAF Hawk aircraft. They are operated by 76 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW and 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce, near Perth, WA. Aircraft can be rotated between units as required and may still wear either Squadron’s markings. Callsign for 79 Sqn is PHOENIX.
SerialCNNotes
A27-01DT01/1201Built in UK by BAE. First flight 16.12.1999 as ZJ632 . Delivered to Australia 28.1.2001
A27-02DT02/1202Built in UK by BAE. First flight 13.5.2000 as ZJ633. Delivered to Australia 23.9.2000.
A27-03DT03Built in UK by BAE. First flight 13.7.2000 as ZJ634. Delivered to Australia 24.8.2000.
Experimental dark grey camouflage.
A27-04DT04/1204Built in UK by BAE. First flight 13.4.2000 as ZJ636. Delivered to Australia 24.8.2000.
A27-05DT05Built in UK by BAE. First flight 27.5.2000 as ZJ637. Delivered to Australia 1.9.2000.
A27-06DT06Built in UK by BAE. First flight 23.6.2000 as ZJ638. Delivered to Australia 1.9.2000.
A27-07DT07/1207Built in UK by BAE. First flight 9.11.2000 as ZJ639. Delivered to Australia 7.12.2000.
A27-08DT08Built in UK by BAE. First flight 20.7.2000 as ZJ640. Delivered to Australia 23.9.2000.
A27-09DT09/1209Built in UK by BAE. First flight 13.7.2000 as ZJ641. Delivered to Australia 24.8.2000.
A27-10DT10Built in Australia – first flight 17.5.2000.
A27-11DT11Built in UK by BAE. First flight 20.1.2001 as ZJ642. Delivered to Australia 28.1.2001.
A27-12DT12 
A27-13DT13 
A27-14DT14 
A27-15DT15Built in UK by BAE. First flight 23.5.2001 as ZJ643. Delivered to Australia 26.9.2001.
A27-16DT16 
A27-17DT17 
A27-18DT18 
A27-19DT19 
A27-20DT20 
A27-21DT21 
A27-22DT22 
A27-23DT23 
A27-24DT24 
A27-25DT25 
A27-26DT26 
A27-27DT27Built in UK by BAE. First flight 11.9.2001 as ZJ643. Delivered to Australia 26.9.2001.
A27-28DT28 
A27-29DT29 
A27-30DT30Experimental two-tone grey camouflage
A27-31DT31 
A27-32DT32 
A27-33DT33 
A27-34DT34 

Republic of Singapore Air Force

130 “Eagle” Squadron : Pilatus PC-21

In November 2006, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support to operate the RSAF Basic Wings Course and Pilatus supplied 19 PC-21 trainers under the contract. The type replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer.

The first six PC-21s were delivered to RAAF Pearce in April 2008 aboard an Antonov Airlines Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft. The PC-21 replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from June 2008. Callsigns used include EAGLE, CYCLONE, LIGHTNING, MONSOON, STORM. Updated 27 Jan 2020.

SerialCivil regCN 
91019V-YYA109First flight 21.1.2008.
25th Anniversary Pearce Detachment’ tail markings.
91029V-YYB110 
91039V-YYC111 
91049V-YYD112 
91059V-YYE113 
91069V-YYF114 
91079V-YYG115 
91089V-YYH116 
91099V-YYI117 
91109V-YYJ118 
91119V-YYK119 
91129V-YYL120 
91139V-YYM121 
91149V-YYN122 
91159V-YYO123 
91169V-YYP124 
91179V-YYQ125 
91189V-YYR126 
91199V-YYS127 

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