Page 12 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

NEWS Continental Europe

Gripen Upgraded Dutch PC-7 re-delivered
exits Belgian
fi ghter
contest
THE SWEDISH Defence
Materiel Agency
(FMV) has withdrawn
the Gripen E from
the competition to
replace the Belgian Air
Component’s F-16s.
In a July 10 statement,
the FMV noted it could
not meet the request
for Belgian government
proposal’s (RFGP’s)
demand for “extensive Above: RNLAF Pilatus PC-7 L-01 taxies onto the fl ight line of 131 EMVO Squadron at Woensdrecht Air Base on July 19, after its
operational support ferry fl ight from Stans-Buochs in Switzerland. Kees van der Mark
from the delivering THE FIRST Royal soldier on until at least The OPP includes a full the aircraft’s structure
nation”, adding it “would Netherlands Air Force 2027 by fully using their glass cockpit with three strengthened and adjusted
require a Swedish (RNLAF) PC-7 upgraded life expectancy of 12,000 displays. The RNLAF is at 16 places in the
foreign policy and by Pil atus Aircraft flying hours or 24,000 the first PC-7 operator fuselage, tail and wings.
political mandate that at Stans-Buochs landings per airframe. worldwide to have both While in Switzerland, the
does not exist today”. Airfield in Switzerland The July 2015 contract the flight and engine PC-7s also undergo a
The F-35A, Rafale and was re-delivered to between the Dutch instruments digitalised – 200-hour inspection.
Typhoon are still in Woensdrecht Air Base in Defence Materiel the Swiss PC-7s that had With the lead aircraft
the running to provide the Netherlands on July 19. Organisation (DMO) and their cockpits upgraded in now re-delivered, the
Belgium with 54 fighters, The aircraft (serial L-01, Pilatus initially covered 2008-09 still have analogue remaining 12 are scheduled
valued at around €3.6bn. c/n 538) arrived at the upgrade of ten PC-7s engine instruments. Other to go through the upgrade
Government agencies Pilatus factory on May 2 delivered in 1989 to modifications in the OPP programme two at a time,
representing the three last year to act as ‘lead the what is now known as include new navigation which should take 12 weeks
remaining bidders must fleet’ airframe for the PC-7 131 Elementaire Militaire and radio equipment, new per aircraft. Aircraft L-07
submit their offers Obsolescence Prevention Vlieger Opleiding (EMVO, landing lights and fitment and L-11 arrived at Stans-
by September 8. Program (OPP) and Elementary Military Pilot of an automatic direction Buochs on July 6. The final
Boeing withdrew its Structural Enhancement Training) Squadron. Work finder (ADF), enabling the two aircraft are expected
F/A-18E/F from the (SE). The upgrade will was later extended to PC-7 to comply with current back at Woensdrecht in
competition in April. enable the 13-strong include the additional three civil flight regulations. mid-October next year.
fleet of Dutch PC-7s to aircraft delivered in 1997. The SE programme sees Kees van der Mark
Irish Air Corps PC-9 attrition replacement Debut fl ight for French
Air Force PC-21

PILATUS AIRCRAFT has and third flight in the
flown the first PC-21 for presence of a French
the Armée de l’Air (French delegation on July 13.
Air Force). The aircraft, The next three French
01 ‘709FC’/HB-HVA (c/n aircraft are now in final
293), made its maiden assembly, with aircraft
flight at Stans-Buochs, five to nine in production.
Switzerland, on July 10, France has 17 PC-21s on
followed by a second order. Dave Allport
Centennial markings on

Above: New Irish Air Corps PC-9M 269/HB-HXI fi tted with underwing tanks at Stans on July 3 Dutch NH90
ready for its delivery fl ight. It left for Baldonnel the following day. Stephan Widmer
A NEW Pilatus PC-9M 15. It left Stans on July 2009 – it brings the Irish
has been delivered to 4 flown by two IAC flight PC-9M fleet back up to
the Irish Air Corps (IAC). instructors on its delivery full strength with eight.
The aircraft, 269/HB-HXI flight to Baldonnel, It had been thought it
(c/n 779), was first noted where it arrived later would take up serial 268,
ground-running outside the same day. following on from 267,
the factory at Stans- Ordered as an attrition the last of the original
Buochs, Switzerland, replacement for another batch, and it’s unclear
on May 10 and took its IAC PC-9M, 265 – lost in a why it has instead become
maiden flight on May fatal crash on October 12, 269. Dave Allport
Eurofi ghter on QRA in Bulgaria

EUROFIGHTER F-2000s air base, near Plovdiv, region as part of NATO’s
from the Aeronautica in Bulgaria. The three- Southern Air Policing Above: Dutch Defence Helicopter Command/860 Squadron NH90
NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) N233 wears large ‘100 years’
Militare (AM, Italian Air month deployment mission. This is the first stickers to celebrate the fact that the Marineluchtvaartdienst
Force) have begun quick began in July. The time Italian Air Force (MLD, Naval Aviation Service) was founded 100 years ago, on
reaction alert (QRA) Italian Typhoons will Typhoons have been in August 18, 1917. On September 16, an anniversary airshow will
duties at Graf Ignatievo patrol the Black Sea Bulgaria since 2013. be held at Maritime Air Station De Kooy, home of the Dutch fl eet
of 20 NH90 NFHs. Kees van der Mark

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