New Delhi:
The Pilatus PC-7 aircraft will be inducted into the Indian Air Force on Friday as the basic trainer for pilots, an official in New Delhi said.
Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh will formally induct the PC-7 Mk II aircraft, which has been manufactured by the Swiss aviation company Pilatus, at the Air Force Academy at Dundigul in Hyderabad.
India has contracted for 75 Pilatus PC-7 aircraft. Of these, 10 have already arrived at the Air Force Academy. The aircraft will be used for first stage of flying by pilots.
Air force officials said the first training course on Pilatus PC-7 will start in July.
The induction ceremony will showcase the PC-7 Mk II in a formation display. Jitendra Singh is expected to go for a sortie in the aircraft. The occasion will see a flypast by Chetak, Kiran and Hawk aircrafts.
Pilatus PC-7 is being used as basic trainer for pilots by air forces in many countries.