Pilatus P-3

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P-3
General information
TypeTrainer aircraft
ManufacturerPilatus Aircraft
Statusin use in private hands
Primary usersSwiss Air Force
Number built79
History
Introduction date1956
First flight3 September 1953
Developed intoPilatus PC-7

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.[1]

Operational history

Brazilian P-3, lacking the ventral fin
Pilatus P3-03
A civil Pilatus P-3-05
Pilatus P-3-05

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]

Variants

P-3-01
Prototype[2]
P-3-02
Military prototype[3]
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.[5][9]
P-3-05
Production variant for the Swiss Air Force. 60 built.[6]

Operators

 Brazil
 Switzerland

The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland.[10][11] Formed in 1996. it currently operates five ex-Swiss Air Force P3 aircraft.[12][13]

Specifications (Pilatus P-3-03)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1958–59 [14]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.40 m (34 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 16.55 m2 (178.1 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.55:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 64A series
  • Empty weight: 1,090 kg (2,403 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,415 kg (3,120 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 160 L (42 US gal; 35 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming GO-435-C2-A2 6-cylinder air-cooled four stroke horizontally opposed piston engine, 190 kW (260 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 310 km/h (190 mph, 170 kn) sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) at 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) AUW
  • Cruise speed: 252 km/h (157 mph, 136 kn) economical cruise
275 km/h (171 mph; 148 kn) maximum cruise
  • Stall speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 500 km/h (310 mph, 270 kn)
  • Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi) maximum in still air
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
  • Absolute ceiling: 5,100 m (16,700 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 7 m/s (1,400 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 90.63 kg/m2 (18.56 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.12 kW/kg (0.073 hp/lb)
  • Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 342 m (1,120 ft) on hard runway at sea level
  • Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 390 m (1,280 ft) on hard runway at sea level

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989, page 12
  2. ^ a b Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1956). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. p. 223.
  3. ^ a b Ausgemusterte Mittel der Schweizer Luftwaffe
  4. ^ a b Pilatus P-3 History, April 27th, 2021
  5. ^ a b Die Geschichte des P-3, Pilatus, Werner Meier
  6. ^ a b Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989.
  7. ^ " History: Pilatus P-3." Pilatus P-3 Retrieved: 9 November 2012.
  8. ^ Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989
  9. ^ "Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations". designation-systems.net. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  10. ^ The P-3 is an all-metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  11. ^ Dai Pilatus P3 Trainers ai Pilatus P3 Flyers (pdf) (From Pilatus P3 trainers to Pilatus P3 flyers), retro.seals.ch (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  12. ^ Vola con il Pilatus dei P3 Flyers - Acrobazia aerea Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine (Fly with the Pilatus P3 Flyers - Aerobatics), volarein.com (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  13. ^ P3 Flyers, Aeroclub Parma (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  14. ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 247.

Bibliography

  • Genève, Alain (January 1990). "50 ans d'aviation au pied du Mont Pilatus (2): Le Pilatus P-3" [50 Years of Aviation at the Foot of Mount Pilatus: The Pilatus P-3]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (242): 18–21. ISSN 0757-4169.
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