| P-3 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Pilatus Aircraft |
| First flight | 3 September 1953 |
| Introduction | 1956 |
| Status | in use in private hands |
| Primary users | Swiss Air Force Brazilian Navy |
| Number built | 79 |
| Developed into | Pilatus PC-7 |
The Pilatus P-3 was a military training aircraft built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.
The Pilatus P-3 was designed for primary and advanced training (including night flying, aerobatics and instrument flying). The military versions were designated P-3-03 to P-3-05. It was of all-metal construction with a retractable tricycle undercarriage and tandem seating. There was provision for underwing racks for light practice bombs or rockets and a machine gun in a pod below the port wing. Although such kits were purchased, they were never used. [1]
The first prototype P-3.01 was built in 1953 and flew on 3 September the same year [2] with a two-blade propeller. The power of the engine of the aircraft proved to be insufficient. A second prototype to become the military prototype flew in August, 1954, now equipped with a different engine and a three blade propeller. During the evaluation of the military prototype, now designated P-3.02 (HB-HOO, becoming A-801 in January 1956), the aircraft had to perform against a T-34 Mentor that had been brought to Switzerland. [3] The test pilot at the demonstration flight went to the limits and flew a standing "8", knowing, the Mentor would not be able to fly this manoeuvre. [4] After the acceptance by the Swiss Air Force, the service received a pre-series of 12 aircraft type P-3.03 (A-802-A-813). Six additional examples were built and flew with civilian markings, those P-3.04 were later acquired by the Brazilian Navy. [5] The Swiss Air Force then purchased 60 airframes of the type P-3.05 (A-814-A-873) [6] and used their P-3s as a training aircraft until 1983, although it continued to be used as a liaison aircraft for another decade. In 1993–1995, 65 ex-Swiss Air Force aircraft were sold on the private market. [7]
After two crashes resulting from an aircraft going into a flat spin, the aircraft A-858 received a ventral fin. After successful testing, all swiss P-3 received the fin. [4]
The prototype P-3.01 HB-HON was used by Pilatus' sister company Contraves as a target tug before returning to Pilatus to become the prototype of the PC-7 in 1966. [8]
Brazil 
Switzerland The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland. [9] [10] Formed in 1996. it currently operates five ex-Swiss Air Force P3 aircraft. [11] [12]
Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1958–59 [13]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The Pilatus P-2 is a trainer aircraft designed by Swiss manufacturer Pilatus in 1942 and first flown on April 27, 1945. It was used by the Swiss Air Force from 1946 until 1981. The Pilatus P-2 emerged from an unbuilt project of the Pilatus P-1, which can be seen as a single-seat version of the P-2.
The Aermacchi AM.3 was the result of a joint venture between Aermacchi and Aeritalia in response to an Italian Army requirement for an aircraft to replace the Cessna L-19, and was initially designated the MB-335.
The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Designed as a more powerful evolution of the Pilatus PC-7, the PC-9's first flight was made in May 1984 after which certification was achieved in September 1985. After this, the first production orders for the type were received from the Royal Saudi Air Force, with deliveries commencing in 1985. Since then, more than 250 airframes have been produced across five different variants, and the type is employed by a number of military and civilian operators around the world, including the Swiss Air Force, Croatian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force and the Irish Air Corps
The Pilatus SB-2 Pelican was a civil utility aircraft developped by a purposely founded development bureau at the ETH Zurich on behalf of the Federal Air Authority. In November 1940 it was decided to go on with the project and build the aircraft, in February 1941 the Authority approved the development bureau to have it built at the newly formed Pilatus Aircraft company.
The Beriev Be-30 is a Russian regional airliner and utility transport aircraft designed by the Beriev Design Bureau. It was developed specifically for Aeroflot local service routes using short, grass airstrips. It was also designed to be used in the light transport, aerial survey and air ambulance roles. It competed against the Antonov An-28 and the Czechoslovakian LET-410.
The NDN Firecracker is a single-engine aircraft designed as a military trainer.
The Zlin Z-37 Čmelák, also known as LET Z-37 Čmelák is an agricultural aircraft which was manufactured in Czechoslovakia. It is powered by a Soviet-built Ivchenko reciprocating engine. The aircraft is used mainly as a cropduster.
The Breda A.7 was a reconnaissance aircraft developed in Italy for use by the Regia Aeronautica in 1929. It was a braced parasol monoplane of conventional configuration with tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and observer sat in tandem, open cockpits. A single prototype of a long-range example, originally designated A.7 Raid and later A.16 was also constructed, but the air force showed no interest in it.
The Bücker Bü 180 Student was a 1930s German two-seat sporting/training aircraft built by Bücker Flugzeugbau.
The Civil Aviation Department Revathi was a light utility aircraft designed in India principally for use by that country's flying clubs.
The PZL-102 Kos (blackbird) is a Polish two-seat touring and training monoplane designed and built by PZL.
The Pilatus P-4 was a Swiss five-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Pilatus, but had little sales success.
The Malmö MFI-10 Vipan was a four-seat light utility monoplane designed and built in Sweden by Malmö Flygindustri. Only three aircraft were built and the type did not enter quantity production.
The Renard R.30 was a prototype trimotor airliner built in Belgium in 1931. It was a strut-braced high-wing monoplane of conventional design with a fully enclosed flight deck and separate passenger compartment. One engine was mounted on the nose, while the other two were mounted on the leading edges of the wings. Construction was metal throughout, skinned in plywood and fabric.
The Ago Ao 192 Kurier was a small German twin-engined aircraft designed and built by AGO Flugzeugwerke in the 1930s. A small production run of six aircraft followed three prototypes, these being used as transports.
The Pilatus PC-8D Twin Porter was a Swiss ten-seat light transport built by Pilatus Aircraft. The type did not go into production and only one was built.
The Pilatus P-1 was a single-engined, single-seat training aircraft project from Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland, ca.1941.
The Pilatus P-5 was a single-engined artillery observation aircraft project from Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland.
The OFW OK-15 was a 1950s Austrian two-seat light aircraft. Designed by Otto Kauba and built by the Österreichische Flugzeugwerke GmbH (OFW) at Wiener Neustadt, it was the first aircraft to be designed and built in Austria for 20 years.
The Weber W-151 was a light aircraft built by the Brazilian manufacturer Campanhia Nacional de Aviões.
