Pilatus P-3

The Pilatus P-3 was a military training aircraft built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.

Design and development 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.Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989, page 12

Operational history

The first prototype P-3.01 was built in 1953 and flew on 3 September the same year 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.Ausgemusterte Mittel der Schweizer Luftwaffe 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.Pilatus P-3 History, April 27th, 2021 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.Die Geschichte des P-3, Pilatus, Werner Meier The Swiss Air Force then purchased 60 airframes of the type P-3.05 (A-814-A-873)Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989. 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." History: Pilatus P-3." Pilatus P-3 Retrieved: 9 November 2012.

The Pilatus P-3 entered service with the Swiss Air Force in 1956.

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.

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.Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989

Variants P-3-01 Prototype P-3-02 Military prototype P-3-03 Pre-production aircraft for the Swiss Air Force. 12 built. P-3-04 Six built with and flown in civilian markings. Later acquired by the Brazilian Navy and designated L-3, O-3, and later U-3. P-3-05 Production variant for the Swiss Air Force. 60 built.

Operators

Brazilian Navy

Swiss Air Force P3 Flyers

The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland.The P-3 is an all-metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear , pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au (retrieved 25 January 2015)Dai Pilatus P3 Trainers ai Pilatus P3 Flyers (pdf) (From Pilatus P3 trainers to Pilatus P3 flyers), retro.seals.ch (retrieved 25 January 2015) Formed in 1996. it currently operates five ex-Swiss Air Force P3 aircraft.Vola con il Pilatus dei P3 Flyers - Acrobazia aerea (Fly with the Pilatus P3 Flyers - Aerobatics), volarein.com (retrieved 25 January 2015)P3 Flyers, Aeroclub Parma (retrieved 25 January 2015)

Specifications (Pilatus P-3-03)

Pilatus P-3

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