Adam the Akrodude wrote:Be interesting to see which way the RAAF goes - PC-21 or Texan 2. The PC-21 in particular is quite a jump up from the CT-4B. Does the contract include a new ab-initio trainer as well as a lead in?
It is to take a civvy off the street and turn them into a military pilot and ship them off to an active squadron. The RAAF will still do their own lead-in at 76 for fast jet, and other squadrons will still do their own conversions. Not quite sure of the complete requirements, but it is to do what the CT-4's and PC-9's do now, but under one contract. Two consortiums are bidding, and both had to place two bids, one for all on RAAF base flying, and the second with a mix of RAAF base-civvy base flying. What planes will be chosen for the ab-initio, I don't recall, but the two for the next stage are PC-21 and Texan-2. I have an interest in this, as the company I work for, Hawker Pacific, are involved with one of the consortiums offering the PC-21.
there may actually be a kit out before we get the aircraft, maybe someone will do a 1/72 Texan II, but nothing on the horizon, don't want a repeat of the PC 9 