FighterControl

Transiting Blackbushe is this San Marino registered ex military PC-7 ?, reportedly departing to KEF over the weekend:

T7-GL7 '48' Pilatus PC-7 by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

Not sure of its actual history, photo on line suggests ex UAE AF but the '48' does not line up ...... '5048' was Iraqi AF.

Update: now being reported locally as MSN 520 a civilian machine but this does not explain the colour scheme or co-ordinated long range tanks ?

Could do with getting someone to turn it round and hope the construction number is still on the nosewheel door! The colours don't match any air-arm I can find, and it's a weird choice for the UAE - especially as they were bright orange previously.

Edit: The colours and UAE roundels are likely meaningless, T7-GL7 was the replacement for N996GL which was painted in Brazilian AF colours despite having been a civilian aircraft all its life.

Could the code be the last digits of it's new serial, presumably of some South American AF?

Possibly Mike, though see my edit above which might muddy the waters!

Any idea on where the construction number could be on the nose gear door?

I doubt it’s painted on. The plate is on the engine bulkhead.

Ah ok thanks

Source Air Britain: HB-HTC Pilatus PC-7 (520) Canx 15.6.21 to T7-GL7.

Andy Marden wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 30, 2022 7:09 pm

I doubt it’s painted on. The plate is on the engine bulkhead.

The vast majority of Pilatus aircraft carry it painted on the starboard nose wheel door.

Yes, I’m well aware of that. I’m talking about this particular aircraft.

Someone at Blackbushe has managed to read the c/n plate under the tailplane.
It's definitely 520, so why it's painted in military colours is a mystery.

The Scramble database says Iraqi AF 5048 is c/n 240

I see it has the T7-GL7 registration under the wing also.

Appears to have a small anchor symbol under the tailplane, perhaps sold to some military operator? and on delivery?.

Punkrunner62 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 01, 2022 1:04 pm

Appears to have a small anchor symbol under the tailplane, perhaps sold to some military operator? and on delivery?.

Pretty sure that’s a tie down point.

Fair point iainpeden.

C/n plate under the tailplane.

IMG_8874a by wokinghampaul, on Flickr

Nice shot,saw that frame at Prestwick December 2005 as HB-HDF/N520WA Pilatus took it to a customer in Boise ended up back in Europe couple of years later

Departed from Blackbushe circa 0835L north bound at 0843L OTT Henley on Thames

And seen from Aylesbury OTT Westcott at 0851L NW bound

Landed Prestwick circa 1040L