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.

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. 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. 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. The Swiss Air Force then purchased 60 airframes of the type P-3.05 (A-814-A-873) 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.

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.

Operators

 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * Brazilian Navy
 * Swiss Air Force
 * P3 Flyers
 * P3 Flyers

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