SEPs in service with european Armed Forces

The Swedish Air Force abanoned single engine trainers long ago. All basic training is done on the Saab 105 (Sk60) twin jet.

When did ever the military cared about saving money on their running costs?

Since “We The People” has the right to question / oppose every governmental decision by referendum (even in military budget & procurement matters)…. and since the Cold War related threats subsided We The People is a lot more inclined to exercise that prerogative.

Jujupilote wrote:

this Chilean plane looks like the TB30 Epsilon that Ibra refers to

The PA28R-300 is a development of the PA28R-200 (Piper Arrow) , just like the TB30 is a development of the TB20 (Trinidad)…

Airborne_Again wrote:

The Swedish Air Force abanoned single engine trainers long ago. All basic training is done on the Saab 105 (Sk60) twin jet

So they start the initial Cadet screening on jets?

I had the impression people who join initial have no clue where they will end up: fighers, helicopters, transportation
People who fly AgustaWestlands or Hercules in Swedish Air Forces have all some Saab jet time?

Jujupilote wrote:

Amazing to start on a jet. I read Sweden is buying PC21s for the future. It sells like hot cakes.

I knew the SAF is buying a new trainer, but I didn’t know it was going to be the PC21. I’m sure the old Saab 105s are expensive to operate, being a design from the early 1960s.

Ibra wrote:

So they start the initial Cadet screening on jets?

Yes. Previously they started on the Bulldog (Sk 61) but that model was decommissioned some 20 years ago. As Jujupilote points out, they are buying a new SET trainer – possibly the Pilatus PC-21.

Ibra wrote:

I had the impression people who join initial have no clue where they will end up: fighers, helicopters, transportation

I don’t know how the British handle it, but in Germany, if you are to fly Helicopters, you’re not getting fixed wing training first, but start directly in Bückeburg. We visited the place some years ago and got a tour. As I recall, the Bundeswehr is training all Swedish helicopter pilots in Bückeburg.

Airborne_Again wrote:

Previously they started on the Bulldog (Sk 61)

Those Swedish Sk 61s are desired by some in the US market because although they were not equipped for continuous inverted flight, they were accordingly not flown so hard and also their hours in service are less that the UK examples.

@Jujupilote, local Epsilon number one has apparently been sold pending pickup by the buyer, and Epsilon number two is inbound. This one is will be grey instead of white and is supposed to stay around longer. The first one was only bought due to lack of patience with waiting for the second one Meanwhile another white one one has shown up on the field, had an avionics upgrade and donated its original French avionics for use as spares. It’s fun watching others spend their money, have fun and sometimes make a little in the fixing and trading.

There is one particular very original ex Italian Air Force Marchetti 260 that I’d like to own. It belonged to a guy I knew and I flew in it then. It sold last year, but it will be for sale again… planes almost always are if you live long enough! Maybe by that time I will have saved enough cash.

Thank you taxpayers of Europe for sending such nice toys this way.

Not sure if Israel is “Europe” (well, they are in the Eurovision song contest ) but they operated TB20s for many years and then switched to Beech Bonanzas.

Not sure if any of these were used for pilot training; more for staff transport and such like.