Pilatus P-3
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The Pilatus P-3 was a military training aircraft built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.
Design and developmentEdit
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.<ref>Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989, page 12</ref>
Operational historyEdit
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The first prototype P-3.01 was built in 1953 and flew on 3 September the same year<ref name=JAWA56-57>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">Ausgemusterte Mittel der Schweizer Luftwaffe</ref> 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.<ref name="Phantom">Pilatus P-3 History, April 27th, 2021</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">Die Geschichte des P-3, Pilatus, Werner Meier</ref> The Swiss Air Force then purchased 60 airframes of the type P-3.05 (A-814-A-873)<ref name=":2">Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989.</ref> 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.<ref>" History: Pilatus P-3." Pilatus P-3 Retrieved: 9 November 2012.</ref>
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.<ref name="Phantom"/>
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.<ref>Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus Flugzeuge: 1939–1989, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989</ref>
VariantsEdit
- P-3-01
- Prototype<ref name="JAWA56-57" />
- P-3-02
- Military prototype<ref name=":0" />
- 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.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- P-3-05
- Production variant for the Swiss Air Force. 60 built.<ref name=":2" />
OperatorsEdit
The P-3 Flyers is an independent air display team based in Switzerland.<ref>The P-3 is an all-metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear Template:Webarchive, pilatus-enthusiasts.com.au (retrieved 25 January 2015)</ref><ref>Dai Pilatus P3 Trainers ai Pilatus P3 Flyers (pdf) (From Pilatus P3 trainers to Pilatus P3 flyers), retro.seals.ch (retrieved 25 January 2015)</ref> Formed in 1996. it currently operates five ex-Swiss Air Force P3 aircraft.<ref>Vola con il Pilatus dei P3 Flyers - Acrobazia aerea Template:Webarchive (Fly with the Pilatus P3 Flyers - Aerobatics), volarein.com (retrieved 25 January 2015)</ref><ref>P3 Flyers, Aeroclub Parma (retrieved 25 January 2015)</ref>
Specifications (Pilatus P-3-03)Edit
See alsoEdit
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ReferencesEdit
BibliographyEdit
External linksEdit
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