The P-3 is a all-metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear.

First flown in 1953, the P-3 served until 1993. A total of 79 P3’s were built, 72 was built for the Swiss Air Army and 6 for the Brazil Navy.

The plane was suitable for primary and advanced training, including night flying, aerobatics and instrument flying with 2 crew, powered by a 260 hp Lycoming piston engine and could go 155mph (249km/hr).The P3 is a delightful machine to fly: very responsive, albeit underpowered, tough and beautifully built. The key figures are (these are the real life figures of a stock P3 – you will find various sources stating that a P3 will cruise at 310km/h, climb at 6.6m/s and has a ceiling of 5000m…..well, that ain’t true!!!

The Pilatus P-3 was soon replaced by the PC-7.

The P3 Flyers team (www.pilatusp-3.com ) adventure started in the mid 90’s, when the Swiss Air Force decided that the Pilatus P3 had done its time and put them all up for sale. During three auctions, the first two in 1991 and 1992, the third and last in 1995, all of the 57 aircraft on offer were sold. A large number went abroad, nonetheless, a fair few airframes managed to be retained in their home country. Four of these were to become the P3 Flyers’ trusted mount.

At the very beginning, it was a bunch of friends, all P3 owners sharing the same passion and enthusiasm for this airplane, who set out to pay visit to a number of local fly-ins and meetings in their newly acquired machines, with no specific reason in mind, other than go places and have fun. This was not to remain so. Prompted by the positive feedback and the growing interest from air-show organizers, it was decided to take it a step further. An appropriate name was found, a simple program was worked out, as well as a schedule of events, which we would go to. The P3 Flyers team was born.

From 1998 to 2001 the team participated to a number of events mainly in Switzerland and Italy and the occasional ones in Austria and Germany. The final touch was given in 2002, when the team applied for and obtained a low level display and formation flying authorization from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. This authorization is renewed each year, following a two to three day training session under the supervision of an expert of the Swiss Aviation Authorities. To these days, the P3 Flyers are the only officially approved private aerobatic team in Switzerland.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: P-3 Function: trainer
MTOW: 1575kg
Crew: 2
Engines: 1 * 194kW Avco Lycoming GO-435-C2A 260hp
Wing Span: 10.40m
Length: 8.75m
Height: 3.05m
Wing Area: 16.50m2
Empty Weight: 1110kg Max.Weight: 1500kg
Speed: 310km/h Ceiling: 5500m
Range: 750km
Vne 500km/h
Vs 115km/h
Cruise 240 km/h
Climb 4m/s +6/-3g
Endurance: 2h30min.

Thankyou: Mike Tyler / Norbert Steinwedel

.......ooOOOOOoo......