PC-7 Team

The PC-7 Team is the Swiss Air Force’s nine-ship turboprop aerobatic team, flying the Pilatus PC-7 basic trainer in crisp red-and-white national colours. The team was officially formed in 1989 to mark the Swiss Air Force’s 75th anniversary and has since become a fixture at major European airshows with tight, elegant formation sequences and mirror-smooth synchronisation.

Pilots are full-time Swiss Air Force fighter pilots during their day jobs—primarily on the F/A-18 Hornet—who consolidate as the PC-7 Team for display seasons. That operational background shows in the team’s precise tempo, crisp rejoins and disciplined energy management throughout the routine.

The team is closely associated with Dübendorf Air Base for its aerobatic activities, while Swiss PC-7 training is centred at Locarno. In 2014 the team introduced a white smoke system, adding modern visual punch to their classic turboprop formations.

Role & origin. Swiss-built tandem-seat basic trainer by Pilatus Aircraft, derived from the P-3 and optimised for economical, reliable ab-initio through basic aerobatic training. Widely exported and in long service at home with the Swiss Air Force.

Layout & powerplant. Low-wing monoplane with a rugged airframe, bubble canopy and ejection seats (Swiss examples), powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop driving a constant-speed propeller—ideal for smooth, high-precision formation work.

In Swiss service. The PC-7 anchors Switzerland’s elementary/basic flying syllabus at Locarno. The PC-7 Team flies standard air-force aircraft configured for displays; since 2014 a smoke system produces the team’s white trails for improved crowd visibility.

The PC-7 has served as Switzerland’s bedrock basic trainer since the mid-1980s, feeding generations of Swiss pilots into advanced types. Training is concentrated at Locarno, while Dübendorf supports aerobatic activities and air-display logistics.

Marking the Air Force’s 75th anniversary, the PC-7 Team began official displays in 1989. A major visual update arrived in 2014 when the team debuted white smoke during a National Day event at Buochs—home field to Pilatus—dramatically enhancing the team’s skywriting and formation definition.

• PC-7 Team pilots are active Swiss Air Force fighter pilots—primarily on the F/A-18 Hornet—who regroup for the display season.
• 1989 was the team’s first official season, created for the Swiss Air Force’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
• Swiss basic flying training on the PC-7 is centred at Locarno; aerobatic display activities are associated with Dübendorf.
• The team’s white smoke was introduced in 2014 and first shown publicly at Buochs during Swiss National Day events tied to the Pilatus PC-24 rollout.
• The PC-7’s PT6A turboprop delivers the smooth throttle response that makes those tight nine-ship formations look effortless.