AS TAMWORTH prepares to farewell the Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School, the partnership that won the contract have taken the first test flight of the new aircraft.
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Lockheed Martin and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd have successfully completed the initial production test flight of the first PC-21 aircraft destined for the Australian Defence Force under the AIR 5428 Pilot Training System program.
ADF BFTS will move to East Sale in 2019, with BAE Systems in Tamworth now chasing civilian and overseas defence flight training contracts. Under a contract signed in December 2015, the initial seven-year program is valued at $1.2 billion.
Performance-based options for up to 25 years will provide the opportunity to extend the length and increase the value of the total contract. Lockheed Martin leads the delivery of an integrated solution tailored for all future pilots for the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army.
The first PC-21 will be handed over to the RAAF at East Sale in June next year after completion of testing and verification work in both Switzerland and Australia. Under the prime contract, Lockheed Martin will provide overall project management for the pilot training system and deliver a family of integrated ground-based training technologies.
Pilatus Aircraft will provide PC-21 turboprop training aircraft and through-life engineering and airworthiness support.
Hawker Pacific will provide maintenance services and fleet support.
