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

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]

Operators
 Brazil
  Switzerland

The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland.[9][10] Formed in 1996. it currently operates five ex-Swiss Air Force P3 aircraft.[11][12]

Specifications (Pilatus P-3-03)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1958–59[13]

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. Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989, page 12
  2. Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1956). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. p. 223.
  3. Ausgemusterte Mittel der Schweizer Luftwaffe
  4. Pilatus P-3 History, April 27th, 2021
  5. Die Geschichte des P-3, Pilatus, Werner Meier
  6. 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. 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)
  10. Dai Pilatus P3 Trainers ai Pilatus P3 Flyers (pdf) (From Pilatus P3 trainers to Pilatus P3 flyers), retro.seals.ch (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  11. 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)
  12. P3 Flyers, Aeroclub Parma (retrieved 25 January 2015)
  13. 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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