This article is based on official announcements from Pilatus Aircraft and SkyAlyne.

First Royal Canadian Air Force PC-21 Completes Maiden Flight in Switzerland

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has moved one step closer to revitalizing its pilot training infrastructure. On February 26, 2026, the first Pilatus PC-21 destined for Canada successfully completed its inaugural production test flight. According to an announcement from Pilatus Aircraft, the flight took place at the manufacturer’s facility in Stans, Switzerland, marking a critical milestone for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program.

Designated as the CT-157 Siskin II by the RCAF, this aircraft represents the first of 19 trainers ordered to modernize Canada’s military flight instruction. The successful sortie, which lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes, verified the functionality of the engine, flight controls, and avionics systems against manufacturing specifications.

A New Era for Canadian Pilot Training

The flight of the first CT-157 Siskin II is a tangible result of the massive CAD 11.2 billion FAcT Program contract awarded in May 2024. SkyAlyne, a joint venture between Canadian aviation leaders CAE and KF Aerospace, manages the 25-year contract to overhaul aircrew training for the RCAF. Under this program, the PC-21 will replace aging fleets, including the CT-156 Harvard II and the CT-155 Hawk, consolidating training into a unified, modern system.

According to program details released by SkyAlyne, the PC-21 is not merely a replacement but a technological leap. The aircraft is designed to bridge the gap between primary flight training and the cognitive demands of fifth-generation fighters like the F-35. Charles Caldwell, SkyAlyne’s Program Manager for FAcT, emphasized the importance of this development in a recent statement:

“This is a very exciting milestone in the progression of the program. PC-21s (CT-157s) have been identified as the ideal advanced training platform for RCAF pilots and are an integral piece of the FAcT program.”

Aircraft Specifications and Capabilities

The PC-21 is widely regarded as the world’s most advanced turboprop trainer. Data from Pilatus Aircraft confirms that the CT-157 Siskin II is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B engine, capable of delivering 1,600 shaft horsepower. This power allows the aircraft to reach speeds of up to 370 knots (685 km/h) and sustain G-forces ranging from +8G to -4G, simulating the physical environment of high-performance combat jets.

Inside the cockpit, student pilots will encounter a “glass cockpit” environment featuring heads-up displays (HUD) and mission management systems that replicate modern frontline fighters. This configuration allows the RCAF to offload training hours from expensive jet platforms to the more cost-efficient turboprop without sacrificing the quality of avionics training.

Strategic Timeline and Deployment

Following this successful first flight, the aircraft, bearing serial number 157201 and the temporary Swiss test registration HB-HXA, will undergo further testing. SkyAlyne expects the delivery of the first aircraft to Canada in the second half of 2026. The fleet will eventually be stationed at 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, which serves as the hub for Canadian military-aircraft pilot training.

The name “Siskin II” pays homage to the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin, one of the RCAF’s first fighter aircraft from the 1920s. By reviving this historical name, the RCAF links its heritage to its future, as the FAcT program aims for full operational capability by 2029.

AirPro News Analysis

The successful flight of the CT-157 Siskin II highlights a broader global trend in military aviation: the “downloading” of advanced training syllabus items onto high-performance turboprops. Historically, students moved quickly from basic props to jet trainers like the Hawk. However, as the operating costs of jet trainers rise and the avionics of frontline fighters become more complex, air forces are turning to platforms like the PC-21 to teach mission management earlier in the pipeline.

For Canada, this shift is also a matter of sovereign industrial capability. While the airframe is Swiss, the engine is Canadian-made by Pratt & Whitney Canada. This alignment supports the government’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy, ensuring that defense spending recirculates within the Canadian aerospace sector. By joining other top-tier operators such as Switzerland, Australia, France, and the UK, the RCAF is standardizing its training regimen with NATO allies, potentially facilitating easier cross-training and interoperability in the future.

Sources

Sources: Pilatus Aircraft (Twitter/X), SkyAlyne / KF Aerospace Press Release