T-428

T-428 is a Pilatus Aircraft PC-21, a single-engine turboprop. SkyMeter has tracked 316 flights totalling 220 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 46 callsigns. The most frequent segment is EKKA to EKKA. Service window in our records spans 458 days. Of those flights, 14 (4.4%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Pilatus Aircraft PC-21 has a maximum takeoff weight of 13,448 lb, light wake category.

About the Pilatus Aircraft PC-21

The Pilatus PC-21 represents the current pinnacle of turboprop-powered military flight training, combining jet-like performance with the economy and handling characteristics that make it ideal for preparing pilots for fast jets. Developed by Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft and entering service in 2008, the PC-21 was designed from the outset to replicate the cockpit environment, systems complexity, and flight envelope of modern fighter aircraft while remaining far cheaper to operate than actual jets. Its stepped tandem cockpit, full glass avionics suite, and head-up display mirror what student pilots will encounter in frontline combat aircraft.

What sets the PC-21 apart from earlier trainers is its remarkable performance envelope: powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B producing 1,600 shaft horsepower, it achieves a maximum operating speed of 320 knots and can sustain +8/-4g maneuvers, allowing it to teach advanced aerobatics, tactical formation flying, and air combat maneuvering that previously required jet trainers. The aircraft can operate from short unprepared strips yet cruise efficiently at 25,000 feet, and its pressurized cockpit provides comfort during extended sorties. Air forces in Switzerland, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates have selected the PC-21 as their primary advanced trainer, replacing older jets like the Hawk and Alpha Jet in many cases.

The type has proven so capable that some operators use it for light attack and reconnaissance roles in addition to training. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, covering routes.