The PC-21 will replace the present team’s plane, the PC-9/A which Roulettes fly since 1989
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aerobatic display team Roulettes will fly new aircraft – in the form of the Pilatus PC-21 – featuring a new livery. The PC-21 will replace the present team’s plane, the Pilatus PC-9/A which Roulettes fly since 1989.
The aircraft will receive a brand new color scheme inspired by technology and energy themes and its motif will retain RAAF traditional colors (white, blue, and red) while incorporating the Australian flag, the team logo, and Southern Cross.
According to RAAF “The color design better enables our pilots to distinguish if an aircraft is viewed from above or below – aiding judgment of flight paths whilst also increasing visibility during day flying.”
However, it is not known when the team will transition to the PC-21 aircraft.
Noteworthy the Roulettes carry out breathtaking displays, using only hand-eye coordination to fly at speeds of up to 590 kilometers per hour and they can pull up to 4.5G (or 4.5 times the normal force of gravity) during their flying program.
Roulettes members are qualified instructors that when they’re not flying with the team they teach qualified RAAF pilots to become flying instructors at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria.
The PC-9/A, which is used for pilot training, will be replaced by the PC-21, the newest of the Pilatus trainers, of which Australia ordered 49 examples.
Photo by Royal Australian Air Force