Pilatus Aircraft has received orders worth more than CHF300m ($292.3m) to supply PC-21 training aircraft to the air forces of France and Jordan.

According to the company, the French Air Force ordered 17 PC-21s and the Royal Jordanian Air Force placed an order for two aircraft.

Pilatus Board of Directors chairman Oscar J. Schwenk said: “France is already the eighth air force to choose the PC-21: these orders included, we will soon have a total of 209 PC-21s flying successfully from bases around the world.”

Additionally, Pilatus will supply two PC-21s to QinetiQ, a UK company that operates the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS).

Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher said: "Pilatus is pleased to be part of the programme of modernisation at QinetiQ Test Aircrew Training.

“Our PC-21 will provide a training platform for the next generation of test pilots worldwide.

"That a global leader in the test flight sector decides to replace ageing Hawks and Alpha Jets with the PC-21 is a tribute to our product's performance and flexibility."

The French Air Force will use the aircraft to train future military pilots who will transfer to the Alpha Jet prior to their conversion on to the Dassault Rafale, Pilatus said.

"Our PC-21 will provide a training platform for the next generation of test pilots worldwide."

Jordan initially ordered Pilatus' PC-9M in August 2015, but later switched to PC-21 after re-evaluating its requirement.

QinetiQ will train flight test engineers and test pilots at ETPS, by using PC-21 aircraft.

Equipped with a pressurised cockpit, air-conditioning, an anti-g system and on-board oxygen generation, the PC-21 provides a comfortable modern training environment.

Image: A PC-21 training aircraft landing. Photo: courtesy of Anthony Noble.

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