Pilatus P-3
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Land / Country: België
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Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft
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Tech Spec: Speed: 280 km/h; Ceiling: 6100 m; Range: 925 km; Length: 8.7 m; Width: 10.4 m; MTOW: 1315 kg
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Power: 1 × Lycoming GO-435 piston engine (240 hp)
Step into aviation history at the International Sanicole Airshow 2026 and meet a true trailblazer of military training aircraft. On the static display awaits a jewel of Belgian historic aviation: the Pilatus P-3, the very first chapter in Pilatus’ legendary lineage of world-class trainers.
Built in Switzerland in the mid-1950s, the all-metal P-3 was cutting-edge for its time. With its sleek retractable landing gear and tandem cockpit, it set new standards for military pilot training. The aircraft served proudly with the Swiss Air Force and in Brazil, and with only 79 examples ever built, it remains a rare and captivating sight today.
The P-3 did more than train pilots. It laid the foundation for a family of aircraft that still shapes modern air forces. Its successor, the iconic PC-7, carried the torch forward, and that legacy continues into the present day. Soon, the latest evolution, the PC-7X, will enter service with the Belgian Air Force, a tribute to Pilatus excellence.
On 12 and 13 September, you can admire this remarkable aircraft up close at Sanicole airfield in Hechtel-Eksel. Today based at Brustem near Sint-Truiden, the Pilatus P-3 returns to the spotlight, ready to tell its story to a new generation of aviation enthusiasts.














