Support: June 8, 2002

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Pilatus of Switzerland and its arch-rival, Embraer of Brazil, expect to see 1,000 advanced turboprop trainers bought by first-line air forces over the next 20 years, and both want at least half of that market. Turboprop aircraft are cheaper to buy and fly than jets, and with modern technology they can equal the performance of the previous generation of jet trainers. Pilatus is offering its new PC-21, which has a five-bladed graphite propeller, a pressurized bubble cockpit, advanced controls, the ability to pull 8 Gs in maneuvers, and five hard-points for over a ton of bombs. The PC-21 can cruise at 370 knots, reach 400 knots at full power, and climb to 38,000 feet.--Stephen V Cole