Piaggio P.3
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1884 in Italy |
| Founder | Rinaldo Piaggio |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft, aircraft engines |
The Piaggio P.3 was an Italian prototype night bomber constructed by Piaggio in 1923.
Design and development
Conceived by engineer Giovanni Pegna, the P.3 was a four-engine biplane featuring two bays and wings of differing spans, with the lower wing extending beyond the upper in length. Its propulsion system comprised four S.P.A. 6A engines, each delivering 149 kilowatts (200 horsepower), arranged in tandem pairs affixed to the lower wing. Each engine powered one of four propellers, configured with two in a tractor arrangement and two in a pusher setup. The tail assembly presented a biplane structure with three rudders positioned between the horizontal surfaces.
The crew complement included four members: a pilot and co-pilot seated side by side within a cockpit positioned just ahead of the wings, a nose gunner operating a machine gun from a forward cockpit, and a rear gunner responsible for two machine guns—one located amidships behind the pilots and another installed in a ventral tunnel to provide protection against attacks from below.
The aircraft’s maiden flight took place in 1923, after which Piaggio upgraded it with two Fiat A.20V engines producing 306 kilowatts (410 horsepower) each. Despite these enhancements, the Regia Aeronautica did not proceed with placing an order for mass production of the P.3.
Operators
Specifications (S.P.A. 6A engines)
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References
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