Piaggio P.3
Piaggio · Italy · first flew 1923 · bomber
The Piaggio P.3 was an Italian night bomber prototype built in 1923. Designed by Giovanni Pegna, it was a four-engined biplane.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-engined two-bay biplane with the lower wing longer in span than the upper
- Four engines mounted in tandem pairs on the lower wing, two tractor and two pusher
- Biplane tail carrying three rudders
The four engines sit in tandem pairs on the lower wing, driving two tractor and two pusher propellers. The biplane tail has three rudders between the planes.
Specifications
- The Piaggio P.3 has a length of 12.4 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24 m (79 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The P.3 made its first flight in 1923. Piaggio later installed two 306 kW (410 hp) Fiat A.20V engines on the aircraft.
Variants
Only the prototype was built. It flew first with four 149 kW (200 hp) S.P.A. 6A engines.
Where you'll see it
The Regia Aeronautica did not place a production order, so the type never entered service. It carried a crew of four and three machine guns.
Related aircraft
- Piaggio P.2
- Piaggio P.16
- Nardi FN.305A
- Piaggio P.23R
- Aero A.12
- Douglas DT-2
- Fokker T.III
- Handley Page Hyderabad
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