3A54 - Pilatus PC-21

RAAF A54 Pilatus PC-21

Project AIR 5428 Australian Defence Force Pilot Training System

Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews MP announced on 06/09/2015 that the consortium of Lockheed Martin, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific was the winning tender.

Acquisition and services contracts worth $1.2 billion were signed on 04/12/2015 by Air Vice-Marshal Leigh Gordon, AM, CSM and Lockheed Martin Australia. The consortium is known as "Team 21"
These contracts are for an initial seven year term and will see the delivery of 49 new Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and 7 flight simulators.

Of the new PC-21s forty two will be allocated to training either based at No.1 Flying Training School (1FTS) at East Sale, Victoria or with No.2 Flying Training School (2FTS), at RAAF Pearce, WA
The East Sale based aircraft will also be used to re-equip Central Flying School's Roulettes Display Team. For ease of fleet rotation all East Sale PC-21s will wear the Roulettes scheme.
It is expected four aircraft will serve in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role with No.4 Squadron based at RAAF Williamtown, NSW
A further three PC-21s are expected to serve with the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) located at RAAF Edinburgh, SA

Lockheed Martin will manage the training project, Pilatus will provide the aircraft and through-life support and Hawker Pacific will provide maintenance services and fleet support.
The Singapore Air Force currently operates PC-21 aircraft based at RAAF Pearce under a similar arrangement.

The unsuccessful tender was from a consortium of BAE Systems, CAE Australia and Beechcraft offering the PC-9 based Beech T-6C aircraft.
BAE Systems will continue with its current ADF training at Tamworth, NSW until the end of 2019 when basic flight training will move to East Sale.

From Erik-Jan Engelen; In early April 2016, I saw two primer PC-21s in the final assembly hall at Buochs (Switzerland) with c/n 234 and 235. On 30 April 2016, also c/n 236 and 237 were present and paperwork attached to c/n 236 identified it as a RAAF aircraft. Given the current order book it is believed that all four are for Australia and since c/n 233 was the last aircraft delivered to Qatar most likely c/n 234 will become A51-001 (sic)

From Stephan Widner The production of Australian aircraft is being interrupted by the construction of 5 for the French Air Force. The construction numbers have been previously allocated so they will be consecutive even if the actual builds are not in strict numerical order.
Australian aircraft c/n 234-282 Jordanian aircraft c/n 283-292 French Aircraft 293-309.
On 22/06/2017 Australian aircraft c/n 244 was along side a French aircraft c/n 293+ in the production hall.

Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG is located in Stans, Switzerland. It is on the edge of the Buochs Airport. The two locations are essentially the same place.

Impressive line-up 5 RAAF PC-21s A54-039 A54-041 A54-042 A54-045 A54-047 Stans 14th August 2019 Photo Stephan Widmer

RAAF Serial	Swiss Registration	Construction Number	Aircraft data
A54-001	HB-HWA	234	04/2016 sighted in the final assembly hall at Stans 18/07/2016 first engine run at Pilatus factory 21/07/2016 first flight 10/02/2017 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia under civil reg HB-HWA. Flown by Pilatus company pilot (Wearing 2FTS tail markings) 18/02/2017 arrived Darwin from final transit stop in Indonesia 20/02/2017 arrived RAAF East Sale 2017 Avalon Airshow static display 12/08/2017 took part in official handover ceremony to RAAF CAF at East Sale 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-002	HB-HWB	235	04/2016 sighted in the final assembly hall at Stans 08/08/2016 first flight 10/02/2017 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia under civil reg HB-HWB. Flown by Pilatus company pilot 18/02/2017 arrived Darwin from final transit stop in Indonesia 20/02/2017 arrived RAAF East Sale 2017 Avalon Airshow static display 12/08/2017 took part in official handover ceremony to RAAF CAF at East Sale 17/03/2018 A54-002, -003, -004 and -006 took part in the RAAF PC-21s first public flying display at the Yarram Air Show 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-003	HB-HWC	236	30/04/2016 sighted in the final assembly hall at Stans Paperwork attached to c/n 236 identified it as an RAAF aircraft 02/09/2016 noted undergoing pre-flight tests outside hangar 13/09/2016 photographed flying as HB-HWC 29/04/2017 departed Stans bound for Australia 06/05/2017 arrived at Darwin 12/08/2017 took part in official handover ceremony to RAAF CAF at East Sale 17/03/2018 A54-002, -003, -004 and -006 took part in the RAAF PC-21s first public flying display at the Yarram Air Show 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-004	HB-HWD	237	30/04/2016 sighted in the final assembly hall at Stans 06/10/2016 photographed flying at Stans 29/04/2017 departed Stans bound for Australia 06/05/2017 arrived at Darwin 12/08/2017 took part in official handover ceremony to RAAF CAF at East Sale 17/03/2018 A54-002, -003, -004 and -006 took part in the RAAF PC-21s first public flying display at the Yarram Air Show
A54-005	HB-HWE	238	15/11/2016 first flight 09/02/2017 sighted flying at Stans as HB-HWE 02/06/2017 departed Stans bound for Australia 10/06/2017 arrived at Darwin 12/08/2017 took part in official handover ceremony to RAAF CAF at East Sale 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-006	HB-HWF	239	09/01/2017 completed first test flight 02/06/2017 departed Stans bound for Australia 10/06/2017 arrived at Darwin 12/08/2017 took part in official handover ceremony to RAAF CAF at East Sale 17/03/2018 A54-002, -003, -004 and -006 took part in the RAAF PC-21s first public flying display at the Yarram Air Show
A54-007	HB-HWG	240	04/01/2017 towed from the Production Hall to the final assembly in hanger 9 16/02/2017 first flight 22/06/2017 noted fitted with ferry tanks 30/06/2017 scheduled for departure to Australia 8/07/2017 arrived Darwin
A54-008	HB-HWH	241	03/01/2017 noted in Production Hall (hangar 12) 23/03/2017 noted flying at Stans 22/06/2017 noted fitted with ferry tanks 30/06/2017 scheduled for departure to Australia 8/07/2017 arrived Darwin
A54-009	HB-HWI	242	16/02/2017 noted in Production Hall (hangar 12) 10/05/2017 noted flying at Stans 4/08/2017 departed Stans bound for Australia 12/08/2017 arrived Darwin 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-010	HB-HWJ	243	02/03/2017, the fuselage of the A54-010 was towed from the painting shop to the Production Hall in hangar 12 12/04/2017 was towed from the Production Hall hangar 12 to the hangar 9 for final assembly 22/05/2017 noted flying at Stans 4/08/2017 departed Stans bound for Australia 12/08/2017 arrived Darwin 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-011	HB-HWK	244	22/06/2017 Noted in the Production Hall at Stans Next to it was a French Air Force PC-21 one of five being built that may cause a temporary delay in the Australian production 13/07/2017 noted with wings attached 13/09/2017 noted ground running outside 10/10/2017 noted fitted with a pair of under wing hard point mounted smoke generators. Was photographed flying with these in operation. They leave two smoke trails a unlike the single trail emitted from the starboard exhaust on the PC-9A 13/12/2017 noted fitted with blue drop tanks 12/01/2018 departed Stans bound for Australia 17/05/2019 reported in service at RAAF Pearce
A54-012	HB-HWL	245	10/07/2017 Painted fuselage towed to Production Hall (Hangar 12) 4/08/2107 Fuselage assembly well advanced 12/09/2107 noted in hangar 9 for final assembly 4/10/2017 noted outside carrying out ground running checks 9/10/2017 first flight 13/12/2017 noted fitted with blue drop tanks 12/01/2018 departed Stans bound for Australia 4/07/2019 departed East Sale for Pearce.
A54-013	HB-HWM	246	13/07/2017 Fuselage in primer noted in Production Hall (Hangar 12) 3/08/2017 Fuselage painted 12/09/2107 well advanced in hangar 12 26/10/2017 first engine ground runs 22/04/2018 arrived at Darwin from Stans 4/07/2019 departed East Sale for Pearce.
A54-014	HB-HWN	247	13/07/2017 Fuselage in primer noted in Production Hall (Hangar 12) 12/09/2107 noted with fuselage painted in hangar 12 10/10/2017 noted in hangar 12 with wings attached 13/11/2017 noted outside having final pre-flight checks carried out 22/04/2018 arrived at Darwin from Stans 26/08/2019 departed East Sale for Pearce.
A54-015	HB-HWO	248	4/08/2017 Fuselage in primer noted in Production Hall (Hangar 12) 10/10/2017 noted painted in hangar 12 with wings attached 29/11/2017 noted outside prepared for ground running tests 13/12/2017 made first test flight 9/05/2018 parked at Stans, departed for Australia on 11/05/2018 19/05/2018 arrived Darwin 20/05/2018 arrived Adelaide 21/05/2018 departed for East Sale 26/08/2019 departed East Sale for Pearce.
A54-016	HB-HWP	249	28/01/2018 made first test flight 2/05/2018 made test flight fitted with blue wing tanks 9/05/2018 parked at Stans, departed for Australia on 11/05/2018 19/05/2018 arrived Darwin 20/05/2018 arrived Adelaide 21/05/2018 departed for East Sale
A54-017	HB-HWQ	250	7/02/2018 noted sitting in the falling snow wearing ARDU tail markings. As such the first RAAF PC.21 to wear anything other than 2FTS markings 28/02/2018 made first test flight 15/06/2018 departed Stans for delivery to Australia 22/06/2018 departed Seletar Singapore on delivery flight 24/06/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport.
A54-018	HB-HWR	251	The second to be seen with ARDU tail markings 28/02/2018 first engine ground runs 16/03/2018 noted on way to performing a test flight 15/06/2018 departed Stans for delivery to Australia 22/06/2018 departed Seletar Singapore on delivery flight 24/06/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport.
A54-019	HB-HWS	252	19/02/2018 noted at Stans partially completed being towed to hangar 9 for final assembly. The first to wear Roulettes scheme 16/03/2018 outside performing final ground running tests 23/03/2018 first flight at Stans 30/05/2018 test flight fitted with blue underwing smoke pods 21/07/2018 arrived Darwin 22/07/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport 16/10/2018 participated in a mixed formation flypast with Roulette PC-9As A23-012, -025 and 050 over Parliament House Canberra.
A54-020	HB-HWT	253	26/02/2018 noted leaving paint shop, the second to wear Roulettes scheme 8/03/2018 painted fuselage in production hangar 12 along with A54-021 7/05/2018 carried out final pre-flight tests 21/07/2018 arrived Darwin 22/07/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport.
A54-021	HB-HWU	254	8/03/2018 painted fuselage in production hangar 12 along with A54-020 Third to wear Roulettes scheme 7/05/2018 noted in hangar 9 for final assembly 30/05/2018 first test flight 23/08/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport.
A54-022	HB-HWV	255	2/05/2018 noted inside hangar 12 wearing Roulettes scheme, the forth to do so 8/05/2018 noted complete with wings and undercarriage bring towed to hangar 9 for final assembly 30/05/2018 outside for first engine runs 23/08/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport
A54-023	HB-HWW	256	The fifth to wear the Roulettes scheme 24/05/2018 ready for final assembly 21/06/2018 noted outside at Stans undergoing first engine runs 21/10/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport
A54-024	HB-HWX	257	17/04/2108 basic fuselage with engine and tail fin spotted on trolley wearing Roulettes scheme, the sixth to do so 3/08/2018 test flight from Stans 21/10/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport
A54-025	HB-HWY	258	The seventh to wear the Roulettes scheme 14/08/2018 noted outside at Stans undergoing final pre-flight checks 9/12/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport
A54-026	HB-HWZ	259	The eighth wearing Roulettes scheme 24/08/2018 noted outside at Stans undergoing final pre-flight checks 9/12/2018 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport.
A54-027	HB-HWA	260	The ninth wearing Roulettes scheme The Swiss ferry registrations have cycled back to HB-HWA 10/09/2018 noted outside at Stans having final pre-flight checks 27/09/2018 noted at Stans on test flight 12/01/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 20/01/2019 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport
A54-028	HB-HWB	261	The tenth wearing Roulettes scheme 26/09/2018 first flight at Stans 12/01/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 20/01/2019 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport
A54-029	HB-HWC	262	The eleventh wearing Roulettes scheme 5/10/2018 outside at Stans undergoing first engine runs 17/10/2018 first flight at Stans 31/10/2018 noted returning from test flight fitted with under wing tanks and smoke pods
A54-030	HB-HWD	263	The twelfth wearing Roulettes scheme 18/10/2018 noted outside at Stans undergoing last pre-flight test 17/03/2019 arrived Darwin
A54-031	HB-HWE	264	The thirteenth wearing Roulettes scheme 28/11/2018 noted outside at Stans undergoing engine runs 8/03/2019 departed Stans on delivery to Australia 16/03/2019 arrived Darwin.
A54-032	HB-HWF	265	The fourteenth wearing Roulettes scheme 14/12/2018 noted outside at Stans undergoing first engine runs 8/03/2019 departed Stans on delivery to Australia 16/03/2019 arrived Darwin.
A54-033	HB-HWG	266	This is the fifteenth new PC-21 to wear the Roulettes scheme. It appears all the East Sale PC-21s will wear Roulettes scheme to allow fleet rotation 16/01/2019 first flight 29/03/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia Made a solo delivery flight due to A54-034 being unservicable at the time 7/04/2019 arrived at Pilatus Australia, Adelaide airport.
A54-034	HB-HWH	267	The sixteenth wearing Roulettes scheme 5/02/2019 noted undergoing test flight Missed delivery flight with A54-033 and joined -035 and -036 26/04/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 5/05/2019 arrived at Pilatus Australia, Adelaide airport
A54-035	HB-HWI	268	The 17th new PC-21 to wear the Roulettes scheme. 8/02/2019 noted undergoing last preflight checks 26/04/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 5/05/2019 arrived at Pilatus Australia, Adelaide airport
A54-036	HB-HWJ	269	Number 18 with the Roulettes scheme 12/02/2019 noted outside the factory at Stans 26/04/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 5/05/2019 arrived at Pilatus Australia, Adelaide airport
A54-037	HB-HWK	270	The nineteenth Roulettes scheme came with a slight twist, it celebrated the 200th PC-21 produced, However this was an error! A54-038 was the actual 200th and that ended up with the corrected titles 21/03/2019 first flight at Stans 17/05/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 25/05/2019 arrived at Darwin (without the 200th PC-21 titles) 26/05/2019 arrived at Pilatus Australia, Adelaide airport
A54-038	HB-HWL	271	The 20th Roulettes scheme celebrates the 200th PC-21 produced, as did A54-037 in error 17/05/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 25/05/2019 arrived at Darwin (wearing the 200th PC-21 titles) 26/05/2019 arrived at Pilatus Australia, Adelaide airport PC-21 production started at C/N 101. Manufacture schedule didn't follow strict numerical order hence the apparent discrepancy
A54-039	HB-HWM	272	One more PC-21 to be painted in Roulettes scheme 24/05/2019 noted at Stans ready for delivery flight to Australia 15/06/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 17/06/2019 returned to Stans after technical issues on its delivery flight to Australia 16/08/2019 departed Stans for a second attempt at delivery flight to Australia 24/08/2019 arrived at Darwin 25/08/2019 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport 26/08/2019 arrived East Sale
A54-040	HB-HWN	273	Yet another with Roulettes scheme 27/03/2019 seen ready for final assembly 1/05/2019 first flight 20/05/2019 noted at Stans ready for delivery flight to Australia 15/06/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 23/06/2019 arrived Darwin 25/06/2019 arrived East Sale
A54-041	HB-HWO	274	Yet another PC-21 to be painted in Roulettes scheme 24/05/2019 noted flying at Stans 16/08/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 24/08/2019 arrived at Darwin 25/08/2019 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport 26/08/2019 arrived East Sale
A54-042	HB-HWP	275	Yet another PC-21 to be painted in Roulettes scheme 5/06/2019 noted outside factory ready for test flight 16/08/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 24/08/2019 arrived at Darwin 25/08/2019 arrived at Pilatus, Adelaide airport 26/08/2019 arrived East Sale
A54-043	HB-HWQ	276	Painted in red Roulettes scheme 17/06/2019 noted on way to test flight 13/09/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 22/09/2019 arrived Darwin from Denpasar (without A54-044 that was stranded in UAE)
A54-044	HB-HWR	277	Painted in red Roulettes scheme 24/06/2019 seen outside undergoing pre-flight tests 13/09/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 15/09/2019 unserviceable at Fujairah UAE 23/09/2019 continuing on delivery flight, in Nagpur 26/09/2019 arrived at East Sale after a series of long days 1. Fujair - Ahmedabadah - Nagpur 2. Nagpur - Bhubaneswar - Bangkok 3. Bangkok - Seletar - Bali 4. Bali - Darwin - Alice Springs 5. Alice Springs - East Sale
A54-045	HB-HWS	278	05/2019 sighted in grey paint scheme with shark's mouth and wearing ARDU badge on tail Believed to be a contingency spare if one of 4 Squadron's FAC PC-21s is off-line 12/07/2019 seen outside undergoing pre-flight tests 16/07/2019 first flight 18/10/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 26/10/2019 arrived Darwin
A54-046	HB-HWT	279	05/2019 sighted in 4 Squadron FAC grey paint scheme 23/07/2019 seen outside undergoing pre-flight tests 13/09/2019 seen outside wearing full RAAF markings 18/10/2019 departed Stans on delivery flight to Australia 26/10/2019 arrived Darwin
A54-047	HB-HWU	280	4 Squadron FAC grey paint scheme with coloured shark mouth 9/08/2019 seen outside undergoing pre-flight tests 15/11/2019 the final three departed a wet Stans on their delivery flight to Australia 23/11/2019 final deliveries arrive at Darwin
A54-048	HB-HWV	281	4 Squadron FAC grey paint scheme with coloured shark mouth 23/08/2019 noted fully assembled outside factory 15/11/2019 the final three departed a wet Stans on their delivery flight to Australia 23/11/2019 final deliveries arrive at Darwin
A54-049	HB-HWW	282	Final PC-21 for the RAAF. 4 Squadron FAC grey paint scheme with coloured shark mouth Incomplete 4 Squadron markings on tail at this stage 8/08/2019 seen being towed to hangar 9 for final assembly 17/09/2019 first flight 15/11/2019 the final three departed a wet Stans on their delivery flight to Australia 23/11/2019 final deliveries arrive at Darwin
n/a	HB-HZD	102	Pilatus sent their company PC-21 demonstrator HB-HZD on a tour of Australia in February and March 2010. Obviously it impressed enough of the right people!

PC-21 A54-046 as HB-HWT Wearing full RAAF markings Stans 13th September 2019 Photo Stephan Widmer

The Author of this page is Darren Crick

Previous Editor was Martin Edwards.

Sources: Pilatus Aircraft. com Defence Media Centre, RAAF News, Aero Australia Magazine, http://airportbuochs.ch, http://defence.gov.au/id/Air5428/Drawings.asp

Emails; Erik-Jan Engelen, Stephan Widmer, Jaryd Stock, Sid Mitchell, Duncan Fenn, Hsing Yih Kuan, Phil Miller, Nathan and Nancy Rundle, Andy Marden, Richard Siudak, Jochem Manders, Grant Prunster.

The majority of photos have come from Stephan Widmar before they leave Switzerland at Stans, Sid Mitchell on arrival at Darwin and Nathan Rundle when they arrive at Pilatus Australia's base at Adelaide Airport. Thanks guys.

Converted to CMS 1st September 2025

Updated 23rd September 2025