RTAF retires PC-9

On Friday 2 February 2024, the Kong Thap Akat Thai (RTAF, Royal Thai Air Force) said goodbye to the Pilatus PC-9 single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft during a decommissioning ceremony at the RTAF Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen air base.

In service since 1991, the RTAF has operated a fleet of 26 PC-9s. Since 2021 they have gradually been phased out. In 2023 about 12 were still active with Advanced Sq/2 FTS Mustang.

During their service life, five aircraft were lost in accidents. Two PC-9s are kept to be admired by the general public; F19-08/34 is a gate guard at Kamphaeng Saen and F19-06/34 is preserved at the RTAF Museum at Don Muang.

The PC-9s are succeeded by twelve Textron Aviation T-6C Texan II single-engine turboprop training aircraft, locally known as the T-6TH Texan II. The first Texans were delivered in November 2022, with the last one completing the order in August 2023.

Credit photo: Hans Rolink (Scramble Archive)