The Pilatus P-3 replaced the Pilatus P-2 and the AT-16 as main training aircraft of the Swiss Air Force. It was introduced in the late fiveties in order to have a training-aircraft with similar handling characterics as the new jets. The first aircraft (A-801) was equipped with a Lycoming GO-435 engine of 240 hp. Subsequent modifications lead to the procurement of a first series of twelf aircraft (A-802 to A-813) followed by another serie of sixty aircraft (A-814 – A-873).

A-871 was later used by Pilatus to develop the successfull Pilatus PC-7.

Most of the Pilatus P-3 were auctioned off on 2 February 1991, 25 April 1992 and 22 April 1995 at Lodrino.

Additional information on the Pilatus P-3 aircraft in use with the Swiss Air Force can be found here: