Pilatus P-3

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

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
1959 Pilatus P3-05
A civil Pilatus P-3-05
Pilatus P-3-05

Design and development

The Pilatus P-3 was designed for primary and advanced training (including night flying, aerobatics and instrument flying). The military version was designated P-3-03. 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.

Operational history

The first prototype was built in 1953 and flew on 3 September, the same year.[1] The Swiss Air Force received 72 examples of this aircraft while the Brazilian Navy acquired six. The Swiss Air Force used the P-3 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.[2]

Operators
 Brazil
  Switzerland

The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland.[3][4] Formed in 1996. it currently operates five ex-Swiss Air Force P3 aircraft.[5][6]

Specifications (Pilatus P-3-03)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1958–59[7]

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 (6,562 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 (16,732 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 (1,122 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. Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1956). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. p. 223.
  2. " History: Pilatus P-3." Pilatus P-3 Retrieved: 9 November 2012.
  3. The P-3 is a all-metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  4. Dai Pilatus P3 Trainers ai Pilatus P3 Flyers (pdf) (From Pilatus P3 trainers to Pilatus P3 flyers), retro.seals.ch (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  5. 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)
  6. P3 Flyers, Aeroclub Parma (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  7. 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.
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