Pilatus P-3
The Pilatus P-3 was a Swiss military trainer developed as a more modern successor to the P-2. Its tandem cockpit and low wing gave student pilots an introduction to fast, retractable-gear aircraft before moving to jets. It served the Swiss Air Force for decades and was later exported to Brazil. Many examples remain in private hands, but the type is still a rare sight outside Switzerland and is an important part of Pilatus’s trainer lineage.
Did you know?
The P-3 succeeded the P-2 as Switzerland's military trainer, adding retractable gear to prepare students for faster, jet-era aircraft.
Specifications
| Length | 8.8 m (29 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
| Height | 2.9 m (10 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.5 t |
| Range | 800 NM (1,482 km) |
| Maximum speed | 210 kt (389 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 22,000 ft (6,706 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 13,000 ft (3,962 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,380 ft/min (7 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 160 l |
| Engines | 1x Lycoming O-435 |
| Units built | 79 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Pilatus P-3 starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Pilatus, the P-3 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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