Warbird or Not Warbird?

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:19 am

Spotted this PC-7 in Fort Worth last week...would we consider it a "Warbird" :axe:

mustanglover · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:23 am

Ztex wrote:

Spotted this PC-7 in Fort Worth last week...would we consider it a "Warbird" :axe:

Warbird.....why not?

The registration says it has our PT6A-25C engine upgrade STC on it also.

airknocker · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:55 am

It sure appears someone thinks it is a military bird.
http://www.militaryaviation.eu/trainer/Pilatus/PC-7.htm

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:28 pm

I was just about to say... the Dutch Air Force use those machines for pilot training, so if a T-6/Harvard is a warbird, than so is the PC-7.

Peace,

David

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:20 pm

I don't think they ever sold new ones any to doctors.
The Bonanza, 182 and SR22 have nothing to worry about.

Designed for military use, used by the military.
Yep, it's a warbird.

mustanglover · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:06 pm

JohnB wrote:

I don't think they ever sold new ones any to doctors.
The Bonanza, 182 and SR22 have nothing to worry about.

Designed for military use, used by the military.
Yep, it's a warbird.

The PC-7 has a US Type Certificate. There are a total of 16 US registered in private ownership, so there could be a Doctor or two in that list.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Just look at the users on this list [Posted a couple of entries above]

http://www.militaryaviation.eu/trainer/Pilatus/PC-7.htm

I can tell you that in the case of the Guatemalan and Mexican PC-7s, these have seen combat, many, many times.

I am likely mistaken, but I believe that the triangular markings that you see on the side of the PC-7 on the image above, could be from Austria? They used the PC-7s as armed trainers, IIRC.

Saludos,

Tulio

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:15 pm

Yep I agree...Warbird.

Looks like a lot of fun too!

$$$$$$

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Iam not attempting to hijack this thread; I just want to share these two images, to document the fact that the PC-7 is indeed, a warbird.

Saludos,

Tulio

Note: I have blacked-out the faces of the pilots, because I have not asked for their permission, to show their faces on the web.

JohnB · **Posted:** Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:07 am

mustanglover wrote:

JohnB wrote:

I don't think they ever sold new ones any to doctors.
The Bonanza, 182 and SR22 have nothing to worry about.

Designed for military use, used by the military.
Yep, it's a warbird.

The PC-7 has a US Type Certificate. There are a total of 16 US registered in private ownership, so there could be a Doctor or two in that list.

But to the best of my knowledge, they were never marketed new (see my post , I said new) as a GA type. You do realize the doctor mention was just a joke?

I wonder why they have a ATC? Unless they wanted to get one to aid in any "off the shelf" bids to the UA military. Also, they may have been looking to sel a few to airline-type flying schools (the ones in the US that are run by, or for foreign airlines) for unusual attitude-type training. Some were were using T-34s, which were getting a bit old.
Besides, if they had European approval, getting an American ATC might have been a fairly low cost paperwork exercise, so why not?

mustanglover · **Posted:** Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:09 am

JohnB wrote:

mustanglover wrote:

JohnB wrote:

I don't think they ever sold new ones any to doctors.
The Bonanza, 182 and SR22 have nothing to worry about.

Designed for military use, used by the military.
Yep, it's a warbird.

The PC-7 has a US Type Certificate. There are a total of 16 US registered in private ownership, so there could be a Doctor or two in that list.

But to the best of my knowledge, they were never marketed new (see my post , I said new) as a GA type.
I wonder why they have a ATC? Unless they wanted to get one to aid in any "off the shelf" bids to the UA military.
Besides, if they had European approval, getting an American ATC might have been a fairly low cost paperwork exercise, so why not?

Not marketed hard here in the states, but many have been bought brand new and brought into the states.

JohnB · **Posted:** Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:26 am

My point is it clearly wasn't a GA type (despite a handful being in the US. The Mustang is owned by private pilots, but its a warbird).
If t's not a GA type (that includes everything from from a SEL to bizjet) or airliner, it's a warbird.

hercules130 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 13, 2011 10:11 pm

Tulio wrote:

Iam not attempting to hijack this thread; I just want to share these two images, to document the fact that the PC-7 is indeed, a warbird.

Saludos,

Tulio

Note: I have blacked-out the faces of the pilots, because I have not asked for their permission, to show their faces on the web.

Tulio,

Thanks a million for posting those fairly rare Guatemalan AF photos, much appreciated.

Gary

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Ye'r Welcome! :drink3:

Saludos,

Tulio

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:15 am

Tulio wrote:

I am likely mistaken, but I believe that the triangular markings that you see on the side of the PC-7 on the image above, could be from Austria? They used the PC-7s as armed trainers, IIRC.

That's an RAF (or Commonwealth air force) rank pennant for a Group Captain (OF-5) or USAF equivalent Lt Colonel. As it's not a pennant related to an authentic scheme (Wing Commanders and above could use their initials as aircraft codes, such as DB for Douglas Bader or JEJ for 'Johnnie' Johnson, but not in this scheme) if the pilot isn't a genuine Group Captain, it's a bit iffy to have on the aircraft. (Also the main camouflage colours are approximate early W.W.II era style RAF, not late/postwar/modern, while the proportions of the pennant seem wrong to me - but I'm no expert on the real thing.)

The Austrian Air Force marking is a white triangle in a red circle, but you're right that they use the PC-7.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_Captain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Air_Force

HTH.

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