Pilatus PC-7 MKX completes maiden flight for French Air and Space Force

The first Pilatus PC-7 MKX turboprop trainer designated for the French Air and Space Force successfully completed its maiden flight on October 9, 2026, departing from the Pilatus Aircraft facility in Stans, Switzerland. A second test flight followed on October 13.

Under a contract signed in 2025 between Pilatus and Babcock France, France is set to acquire 22 PC-7 MKX aircraft, which are expected to become operational by 2027. The procurement includes flight simulators, ground-based training tools, and 17 years of technical support. The new trainers will be based at Salon-de-Provence, replacing the older Cirrus SR20 and Grob 120A aircraft.

The PC-7 MKX features advanced Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C engine. It can reach speeds of 556 km/h and an altitude of 25,000 feet. This acquisition follows similar orders from the Netherlands and Belgium, reflecting a trend toward shared training infrastructure among Western European air forces.