Pilatus P-3

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

File:Pilatus P-3 (8141397661).jpg

File:Pilatus P-3 Swiss Air Force (27704651251).jpg

File:Pilatus P3-05 C-FGBQ 01.JPG

File:Pilatus P3-05 C-FGBQ 04.JPG

The first prototype P-3.01 was built in 1953 and flew on 3 September the same year{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1956 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd |location=London |page=223}} 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.[https://www.vtg.admin.ch/content/vtg-internet/de/die-schweizer-armee/geschichte-der-schweizer-armee/_jcr_content/contentPar/tabs/items/leer/tabPar/downloadlist/downloadItems/106_1511955035315.download/Geschichte_LW_ausgemusterte_Mittel_DE.pdf 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.[https://pilatusp-3.com/2021/04/27/pilatus-p-3-history/ 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230709150929/http://www.caf-swisswing.ch/alt/DE%20fotogalerie%20flugzeuge%20p3.htm 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.[http://www.pilatusp-3.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&aItemid=38 " History: Pilatus P-3."] Pilatus P-3 Retrieved: 9 November 2012.

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

;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.{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=designation-systems.net}}

;P-3-05

:Production variant for the Swiss Air Force. 60 built.

;{{flag|Brazil|1960}}

• Brazilian Navy

;{{SUI}}

• Swiss Air Force
• P3 Flyers

The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland.[http://www.pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au/P3.html The P-3 is an all-metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201160044/http://www.pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au/P3.html |date=2016-02-01 }}, pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au (retrieved 25 January 2015)[http://retro.seals.ch/cntmng?pid=rmi-002:2006:78::382 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.[http://www.volarein.com/dettaglio_deal.php?idp=66 Vola con il Pilatus dei P3 Flyers - Acrobazia aerea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510153740/http://www.volarein.com/dettaglio_deal.php?idp=66 |date=2017-05-10 }} (Fly with the Pilatus P3 Flyers - Aerobatics), volarein.com (retrieved 25 January 2015)[http://www.aeroclubparma.it/acp-reserved/content/contentDetail.action?idContent=p3-flyers-1432724122970 P3 Flyers], Aeroclub Parma (retrieved 25 January 2015)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1958–59 {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1958 |publisher=Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. |location=London |page=247}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=one

|capacity=one passenger

|length m=8.75

|length note=

|span m=10.40

|span note=

|height m=3.05

|height note=

|wing area sqm=16.55

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=6.55:1

|airfoil=NACA 64A series

|empty weight kg=1090

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=1415

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=1500

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity={{cvt|160|L|USgal impgal}}

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Lycoming GO-435-C2-A2

|eng1 type=6-cylinder air-cooled four stroke horizontally opposed piston engine

|eng1 hp=260

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=Hartzell constant-speed propeller

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop note=

|max speed kmh=310

|max speed note=sea level to {{cvt|2000|m}} at {{cvt|1500|kg|0}} AUW

|cruise speed kmh=252

|cruise speed note=economical cruise

::::{{cvt|275|km/h|mph kn}} maximum cruise

|stall speed kmh=100

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=500

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=750

|range note=maximum in still air

|endurance=

|ceiling m=5500

|ceiling note=

• Absolute ceiling: {{cvt|5100|m}}

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ms=7

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=90.63

|wing loading note=

|power/mass={{cvt|0.12|kW/kg}}

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

• Take-off distance to {{cvt|15|m|0}}: {{cvt|342|m|-1}} on hard runway at sea level
• Landing distance from {{cvt|15|m|0}}: {{cvt|390|m}} on hard runway at sea level

|avionics=

}}

{{Portal|Switzerland|Aviation}}

{{Aircontent|

|related=

• Pilatus PC-7
• Pilatus PC-9

|similar aircraft=

• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
• HAL HPT-32 Deepak
• PZL TS-8 Bies

|sequence=

|lists=

|see also=

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Genève|first1=Alain|title=50 ans d'aviation au pied du Mont Pilatus (2): Le Pilatus P-3|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=January 1990 |issue=242 |pages=18–21 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=50 Years of Aviation at the Foot of Mount Pilatus: The Pilatus P-3}}

{{commons category}}

• {{cite web |title=Pilatus P-3 |url=http://www.pilatusp-3.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&aItemid=38 |website=Pilatus P-3 |accessdate=3 April 2020}}

{{Pilatus aircraft}}

{{FAB aircraft designations}}

P-03

Category:1950s Swiss military trainer aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1953

Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear