Pilatus Aircraft P-3

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The Pilatus P-3 was a Swiss trainer aircraft that first flew in 1953, providing intermediate flight instruction for military and civilian pilot development programs. Measuring 8.8 meters in length with a 10.4-meter wingspan, it achieved 310 kilometers per hour maximum speed and 750-kilometer range. The rugged construction suited demanding training sorties while the practical performance prepared pilots for advanced types. Its economical operation appealed to training organizations.