First French Pilatus PC‑7 MKX completes maiden flight in Switzerland
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The first Pilatus PC‑7 MKX built for the French Air and Space Force completed its maiden flight in Switzerland, and France selected the type in 2025 as part of a 17‑year training contract awarded to Babcock France.
The French program calls for 22 PC‑7 MKX aircraft together with simulators and ground‑based training equipment, and the fleet will operate from Salon‑de‑Provence Air Base to provide initial flight instruction before students move to more advanced aircraft; France already operates 26 Pilatus PC‑21 turboprops for advanced pilot training, including aircraft from a follow‑on order.