PC-7 TEAM

The "PC-7 Team" is another Swiss Air Force aerobatic display team.

The team consists of nine Pilatus PC-7 turboprop trainer and ten pilots: nine demonstration pilots and one spare pilot. The team's pilots each use "Turbo" call-signs followed by their number. All the PC-7 aircraft are painted in an overall red and white paint scheme. The team's aircraft do not however use smoke generators.

The "PC-7 Team" leader "Turbo-1" leads the team in the air and "Turbo-9" is the sub-leader who leads 3 other aircraft once the team formation splits up. "Turbo-7" and "Turbo-8" are the solo pilots. The team also includes two narrators, a commandant who is the commander of the team, and technicians drawn from Payerne, Dübendorf or Locarno Air Bases.

The "PC-7 Team" initially practices for 2 weeks in the spring and then once or twice before each show, normally on the day before the actual show.

History

The "PC-7 Team" (which draws its name from that of its planes) was first established in 1987 on the occasion of the Air Force championships in Dubendorf. At that time, nine Pilatus PC-7 trainers performed a demonstration representing the Swiss Air Force.

The "official" founding of the team occurred in 1989, during the 75-anniversary year of the Swiss Air Force and the team first received its name. The first leader of the "PC-7 Team" was Major Res Dubs, who was a former "Patrouille Suisse" team leader.

Until the end of 2007, the team's PC-7 aircraft were painted in an orange and aluminum paint scheme. Then in 2008, the team's aircraft received new paint scheme of overall red and white.