Pilatus P-3
| Pilatus P-3 | |
|---|---|
|
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| Type: | two-seat school / training aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
3rd September 1953 |
| Commissioning: |
1955 |
| Production time: |
1955-1959 |
| Number of pieces: |
79 |
| Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| length | 8.75 m | |
| span | 10.40 m | |
| height | 3.05 m | |
| Wing | 16.50 m² | |
| Weight | ||
| Empty weight | 1190 kg | |
| Maximum starting load | 1530 kg | |
| Engine | ||
| Engine |
Lycoming GO-435-C2A2 |
|
| power |
240 hp (180 kW) |
|
| Services | ||
| Max. speed | 306 km / h | |
| Cruising speed | 252 km / h | |
| Climb performance | 420 m / min | |
| Service ceiling | 5500 m | |
| Range | 750 km | |
| Takeoff route | 342 m | |
| Landing route | 390 m | |
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The Pilatus P-3 is a two-seat training aircraft designed as a cantilever low- wing aircraft . It was developed from 1952 by the Swiss company Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG and then built. 72 units were built for the Swiss Air Force and six for Brazil .
history
Development of the prototype
With the advent of jet and nose landing gear combat aircraft, it was necessary to rethink the training of combat pilots. The aim was to create a type of aircraft with which one could complete all of the beginner's training up to switching to a jet trainer. This should already have a certain similarity to the fighter jets in terms of visibility as well as take-off and landing properties.
From 1952 the project was dealt with at Pilatus , and it was named P-3. The first flight took place on September 3, 1953 ; After testing by the Federal Aviation Office, the type certificate was issued. The prototype was tested by the air force (now the Luftwaffe) in 1953/54. In 1966 the machine was converted into the prototype of the PC-7 .
Takeover by the army
The flight tests led to a second prototype which, among other changes, got a better engine installed. After a second test phase, the air force took over the machine and ordered a test series of twelve aircraft, which were manufactured in 1955 and 1956. Two stations for training weapons were provided on the wings of these machines, but these were never used.
After the tests in the training company, another series of 60 aircraft was ordered in 1957, which were largely identical to those from the previous series. When the PC-7 was introduced as the Air Force's new training aircraft in 1983, the P-3 was still used as a liaison aircraft. The last 22 aircraft were decommissioned in 1994 at the Luftwaffe after a total of 35 P-3s had been sold to civilian buyers in 1991 and 1992. The P3 Flyers "The Swiss Pilatus Warbird aerobatic Team" from Ambri do aerobatics with five Pilatus P-3s.
Civil series
After the first series of tests, six machines were assembled at Pilatus, which were initially used in civil aviation schools. The whole series was sold to the Brazilian Navy via America in 1963. Two of the machines are now on display in a museum in Rio de Janeiro.
Construction / equipment
The two-seat P-3 is designed as a cantilever low-wing aircraft. It is made entirely of metal. The full view hood goes over both seats and can be thrown off in an emergency. The machine has retractable undercarriage with low-pressure tires and disc brakes.
Double controls, blind flight and radio equipment are standard equipment of the trainer.
Military users
See also
literature
- Roland Eichenberger: Pilatus aircraft 1939–1989 . Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, Stans 1989.
Web links
- www.quax-flieger.de : A Pilatus P3 in the association for the promotion of historical aircraft
