Pilatus P-3

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

The first prototype was built in 1953 and flew on September 3 the same year.

The Swiss Air Force received 72 examples of this aircraft while the Brazilian Navy acquired 6. 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 to a private market.

Operators

• Brazilian Navy

• Swiss Air Force

Specifications (Pilatus P-3-03)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, student and instructor
• Length: 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 10.40 m (34 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.05 m (10 ft)
• Wing area: 16.55 m² (177.6 ft²)
• Empty: 1,090 kg (2,400 lb)
• Loaded: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 1,530 kg (3,374 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Lycoming GO-435-C2-A2, 6 cylinder horizontally opposed, 180 kW...
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