Swiss Air Force says goodbye to the PC-9

On 8 December 2022, the Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force) ended the operations with the Pilatus PC-9, when C-412 was taking off from Emmen air base for its last flight to RUAG at Lodrino.

The Pilatus PC-9 two-seater turboprop trainer and successor to the Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer, was primarily used by the Swiss Air Force as a target towing aircraft for Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) training. In a secondary role, the aircraft could be equipped with the powerful Ericsson Erijammer A-100 jammer pod VISTA for electronic counter measures to avoid anti-aircraft defence and other combat aircraft.

The yellow-black striped aircraft was flown mainly by pilots of the Zielflugstaffel 12 (No 12 Target squadron) at the main operations areas of the AAA practice grounds in the Valais and the Engadin. For the target towing purpose, the PC-9 was fitted with a tow winch, with which the target was deployed. The AAA units fire at these targets towed behind the aircraft and, if all safety requirements are met, live ammunition can be used. Gunnery missions were also practiced at night.

The PC-9 were acquired in three batches, the oldest aircraft having been operational since 1988. Overview of the Swiss Air Force Pilatus PC-9s:

A-795 (c/n 176), to EIS Aircraft GmbH as D-FKMT
A-797 (c/n 107), to Croatian Air Force as 052
C-401 (c/n 119), preserved Flieger-Flab-Museum at Dübendorf
C-402 (c/n 120), stored RUAG at Lodrino
C-403 (c/n 178), stored RUAG at Lodrino
C-404 (c/n 179), w/o 14oct98 after mid-air collision with C-405 near Buchwill, used for spare parts
C-405 (c/n 213), w/o 14oct98 after mid-air collision with C-404 near Buchwill
C-406 (c/n 214), preserved Flieger- und Fahrzeugmuseum at Altenrhein
C-407 (c/n 215), withdrawn from use, location and status unknown
C-408 (c/n 216), withdrawn from use, location and status unknown
C-409 (c/n 221), withdrawn from use, location and status unknown
C-410 (c/n 222), preserved MMW Militärmuseum at Möriken-Wildegg
C-411 (c/n 223), withdrawn from use, location and status unknown
C-412 (c/n 224), stored RUAG at Lodrino

If you have information on the status and location of C-407, C-408, C-409 and C-411 please inform us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo by Marco Kuijsten (Scramble Archive)