NIAI P-3

The P-3,, was a multi-purpose trainer aircraft designed and built in the USSR from 1936.

Development

In 1930 the LIIPS formed a UK GVF, in turn the UK GVF formed the NIAI which became the focus of several good design engineers who were given command of individual OKB.
The P-3 was designed by Anatolii Georgievich Bedunkovich, an Engineer Colonel, was conceived as a more powerful and faster aircraft similar to the LK-4, able to be produced in several versions to carry out different tasks. The three variants tested were intended for military training of pilots and crewmen. Construction was of wood throughout with some fabric covering. Testing at Leningrad was successfully completed by February 1937 when the aircraft was transferred to NII VVS, for further testing, a production order was anticipated but the prototype crashed irreparably, due to pilot error, and no production was authorised.

Variants

P-3DP – For training pilots and observers for R-5 and similar aircraft.

P-3OB – For training pilots of I-15 and other biplane fighters: The upper wing centre-section was removed along with the side cabane struts and the rear cockpit was faired over.P-3ON– For training I-16 and other monoplane fighter pilots, the P-3 ON had a cantilever lower wing only and a smaller tailplane.